Joel Frederiksen - Ensemble Phoenix - The Death of General Wolfe | Текст песни

• Тексты песен
• Joel Frederiksen - Ensemble Phoenix
• The Death of General Wolfe

Cheer up your hearts, young men, let nothing fright you,
Let not your courage fail, till after trial,
Nor let your fancy move, at the first denial.

I went to see my love only to woo her,
I went to gain her love, not to undo her,
Whene'er I spoke a word, my tongue did quiver,
I could not speak my mind, while I was with her.

Love, here's a diamond ring, long time I've kept it,
'Tis for your sake alone, that I have kept it,
When you the posy read, think on the giver,
Madam, remember me, or I'm undone forever.

Brave Wolfe then took his leave of his dear jewel
Most surely did she grieve, saying don't be cruel;
Said he, 'tis for a space that I must leave you,
Yet love, where'er I go, I'll not forget you.

So then this gallant lad did cross the ocean,
To free America from her invasion,
He landed at Quebec with all his party,
The city to attack, both brave and hearty.

Brave Wolfe drew up his men in form so pretty,
On the plains of Abraham, before the city,
There, just before the town, the French did meet them,
With double numbers, they resolved to beat them.

When drawn up in a line, for death prepared,
While in each others' face their armies stare,
So pleasantly brave Wolfe and Montcalm talked,
So martially between their armies walked.

Each man then took his post at their retire,
So then these numerous hosts began to fire,
The cannon on each side did roar like thunder,
And youth in all their pride was torn asunder.

The drums did loudly beat, colors were flying
Brave Wolfe began to wake as he lay dying,
He lifted up his head while guns did rattle
And to his army said, how goes the battle?

His aide-de-camp replied, "Tis in our favor,
Quebec with all her pride, we soon shall have her,
She'll fall into our hands with all her treasure;"
"Oh then," brave Wolfe replies, "I die with pleasure."

*** B ***

The Battle of Montcalm and Wolfe

From Anne Warner, Traditional American Folk Songs from the Anne &
Frank Warner Collection, #21, pp, 87-89. From the singing of
"Yankee" John Galusha of New York. Apparently collated from three
recording sessions, 1940, 1941, and 1946.

Bad news has come to town, bad news is carried,
Some says my love is dead, others say she's married.
As I was a-pond'ring on this, I took to weeping.
They stole my love away whilst I was sleeping.

Love, here's a ring of gold, long years I've kept it.
Madame, it's for your sake, will you accept it?
When you the posy read, pray think on the giver.
Madame, remember me, for I'm undone forever.

Then away went this brave youth, and embarked all on the ocean,
To free Americay was his intention.
He landed in Quebec with all his party,
The city to attack, being brave and hardy.

He drew his armies up in lines so pretty
On the Plains of Abraham back of the city,
At a distance from the town where the French would meet him,
In double numbers, who resolved to beat him.

Montcalm and this brave youth together walked,
Between two armies they like brothers talked,
Till each one took his post and did retire.
It was then these numerous hosts commenced their fire.

Little did he think death was so near him.
[one line missing]
When shot down from his horse was this our hero.
We'll long regret his loss in tears of sorrow

He raised up his head where the cannons did rattle,
And to his aide he said, "How goes the battle?"
His aide-de-camp replied, "It's ending in our favor."
"Then," says this brave youth, "I quit this earth with pleasure."

(Variant ending, from the 1946 session -- note that it is identical
to the above except for the addition of line 4:)

He raised up his head where the cannon did rattle,
And to his aide he said