Annotation:Trooper and the Maid (The)
X:1 T:Trooper and the Maid, The M:2/4 L:1/8 R:Polka K:G D|G2GA|Bd de/f/|gB B/A/G/A/|BA AB|G2GA|Bd de/f/|gB AB/A/|G3:| |: c|Bd ga/g/|fe e/f/g/e/|dB AG/A/|BA AG/A/|Bd ga/g/|fe e/f/g/e/|dB AG/A/|B G G:|
TROOPER AND THE MAID, THE. Irish, Polka (2/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. "The Trooper and the Maid" is a widespread folksong known throughout Ireland, Scotland and England, sometimes called "The Bold/Light Dragoon", also collected in North America. There are numerous versions of the words and many tunes have been used as the vehicle for the song. A representative lyric, from the singing of Jimmy McBeath, begins:
A trooper lad come here last nicht,
An, oh, but he wis weary.
A trooper lad come here last nicht,
When the moon shine bright on clearly.Chorus (after each verse):
Bonny lassie, I lie near ye yet,
Bonny lassie, I lie near ye,
An ah'll gar aa yer ribbons reel
On the morning or ah leave ye.
