Soldier's Lament (The)
X: 1 T:The Soldier's Lament * ? + C:C.E.Larrabee, Binghamton, N.Y. M:6/8 L:1/8 Q:1/4=75 F:http://www.john-chambers.us/~jc/music/abc/mirror/drumband.org/Soldiers_Lament_v2.abc K:G G|GBd gfg|f>ed cBA|G>Bd efg|f>de def| gbg afd|c>de dBA|G>ABc>Ad|B>GA G2 :| |: B/c/|d2e B2d|gfa gfe|d2e B2d|gfa g2 e/e/| d2e B2d|gfa gfe|dgB AGA|BGA G2 :| % The second staff of this tune, #70, is identical to the second staff of tune #69. % This is highly suspicious and one of the tunes is believed to be in error. Both were % contributed by the same person, however, and are not common, so the contributor may % have knowingly composed or played both with the same second half. % The tune is akin to "Rye Whiskey", as are the lyrics below from a civil war era diary. %X:1 %T:Rye Whisky %M:6/8 %L:1/8 %K:G % z4 z B| BGG DDD| GGG B2 B/2A/2| BGE DDD| GGA G2 B,| CEE B,DD| GGA B2 B/2A/2|\ % B G/2G/2 E DB,D| GGA G2 z| W:from the diary of William Lock Henthorn, excerpts of which were found at http://members.aol.com/RYouCuz/diary.htm W:____________________________________ W:Dec 30th 1863 W:The Soldiers Lament W: W:1) one morning one morning in may W:I herd a poor fellow lamenting & say W:I herd a poor fellow lamenting & mourn W:I am a poor union soldier & far away from home. W: W:2) adios to old Illinois I can no longer stay W:hard times & The Rebels draw me away W:hard times & the Rebels has caused me to mourn W:I am a union Soldier & far away from home W: W:3) Oh abrham oh abrham tis for your Sake I live W:that I left my dear people my country to defend W:that I left my dear people to weap & to mourn W:I am a union Soldier & far away from home W: W:4) Ile build me a castle on yonder mountain high W:that my tru love may See me as She passes by W:that my tru love may See me & help one to mourn W:I am a union Soldier & far away from home W: W:5) Oh milly oh milly tis for your Sake a loan W:that I left my dear mother to weap & to mourn W:that I left you & mother & Sister all alone W:I am a union Soldier & far away from home W: W:6) A cup of cold water a glass or two of wine W:you may drink to your Tru love & ile drink to mine W:you may drink to your tru love & help one to mourn W:I am a union Soldier & far away from home W: W:7) Ile eat when ime hungry & drink when Ime dry W:if the Rebs dont kill me ile live till I die W:& if milly forsakes me She will cause one to mourn W:I am a union Soldier & far away from home W: W:Writen by Wm J Long Co. C 22nd Ohio W:Voz Inft. W:_______________________________________________ W: W:NOTE: Compare the above to the alternate verses to Rye Whiskey following, found at http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/pages/tiRYEWHISK;ttRYEWHISK.html W:__________________________________________ W:Rye Whiskey W: W:I'll eat when I'm hungry, W:I'll drink when l'm dry, W:If the hard times don't kill me, W:I'll lay down and die. W: W: Rye whisky, rye whisky, W: Rye whisky, l cry, W: If you don't give me rye whisky, W: I surely will die. W: W:I'll tune up my fiddle, W:And I 'll rosin my bow, W:I'll make myself welcome, W:Wherever I go. W: W:Beefsteak when l'm hungry, W:Red liquor when l'm dry, W:Greenbacks when I'm hard up, W:And religion when I die. W: W:They say l drink whisky, W:My money's my own; W:All them that don't like me, W:Can leave me alone. W: W:Sometimes l drink whisky, W:Sometimes l drink rum, W:Sometimes l drink brandy, W:At other times none. W: W:But if I get boozy, W:My whisky's my own, W:And them that don't like me, W:Can leave me alone. W: W:Jack o' diamonds, jack o' diamonds, W:I know you of old, W:You've robbed my poor pockets W:Of silver and gold. W: W:Oh, whisky, you villain, W:You've been my downfall, W:You've kicked me, you've cuffed me, W:But I love you for all. W: W:If the ocean was whisky, W:And I was a duck, W:I'd dive to the bottom W:To get one sweet suck. W: W:But the ocean ain't whisky W:And l ain't a duck, W:So we'll round up the cattle W:And then we'll get drunk. W: W:My foot's in my stirrup, W:My bridle's in my hand, W:l'm leaving sweet Lillie, W:The fairest in the land. W:Her parents don't like me, W:They say l'm too poor; W:They say I'm unworthy W:To enter her door. W: W:Sweet milk when l'm hungry, W:Rye whisky when l'm dry, W:If a tree don't fall on me, W:I'll live till I die. W: W:I'll buy my own whisky, W:I'll make my own stew, W:If I get drunk, madam, W:It's nothing to you. W: W:I'll drink my own whisky, W:I'll drink my own wine, W:Some ten thousand bottles W:I've killed in my time. W: W:I've no wife to quarrel W:No babies to bawl; W:The best way of living W:Is no wife at all. W: W:Way up on Clinch Mountain W:l wander alone, W:l'm as drunk as the devil, W:Oh, let me alone. W: W:You may boast of your knowledge W:An' brag of your sense, W:'Twill all be forgotten W:A hundred years hence. W: W:(Negro Variant) W:In my little log cabin, W:Ever since I been born, W:Dere ain't been no nothin' W:'Cept dat hard salt, parched corn. W: W:But l know whar's a henhouse, W:De turkey he charve; W:An, if ol' Massa don' kill me W:l cain't never starve. W: W:(Variant chorus) W:Rye whisky, rye whisky, W:You're no friend to me; W:You killed my poor daddy, W:Goddamn you, try me. W: W:Additional verses W: W:O Mollie, O Mollie, it's for your sake alone W:That I'd leave my old parents, my house, and my home. W: W:I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry W:And when I get thirsty I'll lay down and cry W: W:O baby, O baby, I've told you before, W:Do make me a pallet, I'll lay on the floor. W: W:I will build me a castle on yonder mountain high W:Where my true love can see me when she comes ridin' by. W: W:Where my true love can see me and help me to mourn. W:I'm a rabble soldier and Dixie's my home. W: W:I'll get up in my saddle, my quirt in my hand, W:And I'll think of you, Mollie, when in some distant land. W: W:I'll think of you, Mollie. You caused me to roam. W:I'm a rabble soldier and Dixie's my home. W: W:But the ocean ain't whiskey, and I ain't no duck, W:So I'll play jack o' diamonds and try to change my luck. W: W:I have rambled and gambled all my money away W:But it's with the rabble army, O Mollie, I must stay W: W:It is with the rabble army, O Mollie, I must roam. W:I'm a rabble soldier and Dixie's my home. W: W:The Union men and Yankees have forced me from my home. W:I am a rebel soldier and far from my home. W: W:I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry. W:If those Yankees don't kill me, I'll fight till I die. W: W:From American Ballads and Folk Songs, Lomax W:Note: One of the more exhaustive texts. W: W: W:*************** W:The last half of of "The Soldier's Lament" does not have the same rhythm as the first and may reflect W:some lost chorus or refrain with different words. Given the history of the 85th New York Volunteers with W:which C.E. Larrabee may have served, the following words or something similar might match the rhythm, W:be roughly consistent with the diary entry above, W:________________________________ W:O Abraham, I came when you called me. W:Oh Abraham, I left my fair home. W:You might recall, I marched with your army, W:But now I am stuck here at Andersonville. W:________________________________ W:These words are purely conjectural and are offered here ONLY because they fit the meter of the mysterious W:second half of the song and illustrate how it might fit appropriately with the first half.