Annotation:Soldier's Adieu (1) (The)
X:1
T:Soldier's Adieu [1], The
M:C
L:1/8
R:Air
B:James Aird – Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, vol. 5
B:(Glasgow, 1797, No. 26, p. 10)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:G
d|g3f g2f2|d3c B2zc|d2d2B2G2|F2A2 z2d2|g3f g2 (fe)|d3c B2 B>d|
c3B (BA) (GF)|G3A G2 zF|B3B d2d2|g2g2B2 B/d/g/b/|a3d d2 ^c>d|d2d2 z2d2|
d3c Bcde|=f3F E2ze|e3d ^c>d ef|g3G F2zd|gfge d3 e/c/|B>c A>G G3G|
B2G2 G4|dedc B2d2|g2g2 B3c|d2B2e4|e2 d/c/ A/G/ F2d2|
g3d a2d2|b3a g3f|e3d c3B|A2 Bc d3d|B2G2 z2z||
SOLDIER'S ADIEU, THE. English, Air (whole time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). One part. "The Soldier's Adieu" is a song by English composer, musician, dramatist, novelist and actor wikipedia:Charles_Dibdin (1745-1814), famous for his sea songs and patriotic anthems. A prolific songwriter, he composed words and music to over 600 songs. In addition he was a successful dramatist, working in conjunction with David Garrick until the two had a falling out. Dibdin was promised a pension by the government in honor of his patriotic output, coming at a time when England seemed nearly always either at war with France or in an uneasy truce, and needed propaganda for recruitment. However, with a change in governments later in life, Dibdin's pension was withdrawn, forcing him to lecture to sustain himself. He never regained the popularity he once had.
"Soldier's Adieu" was first performed in The Wags (1790). The song had currency into the early 19th century and appears in a few musicians' manuscript collections and song anthologies.
Adieu, adieu my only life,
My duty calls me from thee;
Remember thou'rt a Soldier's wife
, Those tears but ill become thee
What though by duty I am call'd
Where thund'ring cannons rattle,
Where valour's self might stand appal'dv Where valours self might stand appal'd,
When on the wings of thy dear love
To heav'n above thy fervent orisons
Had flown the tender pray'r thou put up there
Shall call a guardian Angel down,
Shall call a guardian Angel down
To watch me in the battle.
