Poor Soldier (I) - Folklorist

“Poor Soldier (I)”

Description

"All out in the snow they are tonight, Far away from kin and home. God help the ones who fight for the right, And them who are done gone on. Poor soldier, hungry and cold (x2)." The girl recalls her soldier's departure and prays he is safe wherever he is

Supplemental text

Poor Soldier (I)
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

From Anne Warner, Traditional American Folk Songs from the Anne &
Frank Warner Collection, #132, p. 308. From the singing of
Frank Proffitt of North Carolina. Collected 1959.

All out in the snow they are tonight,
Far away from kin and home.
God help the ones who fight for the right,
And them who are done gone on.
Poor soldier, hungry and cold.
Poor soldier, hungry and cold.

It's well I recollect when he bid me farewell,
He went with head held high,
Away to fight for the Stars and Stripes,
Perhaps away to die.
Poor soldier, hungry and cold.
Poor soldier, hungry and cold.

I know not where he is tonight,
God alone only knows.
Keep him safe and sound from all harm,
Protect him from all his foes.
Poor soldier, hungry and cold.
Poor soldier, hungry and cold.

Notes

The Warners claim this is a Civil War song, and so does the tradition in Frank Proffitt's family. They're probably right, but there is no reason why it could not have been sung in any other U.S. war fought in a cold climate.

The musical notes in Warner comment on how irregular the tune and meter are to this piece. It's simple truth; Frank Proffitt didn't really seem to have a tune; more of a sketch which he fleshed out irregularly to fit the words. - RBW

Recordings

Frank Proffitt, "Poor Soldier" (on FProffitt01)

References