“The Soldier Boy (III) (The Texas Volunteer)”
Description
"I volunteered to Texas, I will have you all to know, A long road to travel, I never travelled before, Oh, my home, sweet home!" The singer recalls the sorrow his parents suffered when he left. The song ends with verses from "The Roving Gambler."
Notes
This is a peculiar song, with an opening that seems to be known only from the Rakes family of Tennessee (mother and daughter: Mrs. J. P. Rakes and Lola Rakes). The interesting point is that the second half is entirely from "The Roving Gambler (The Gambling Man)" [Laws H4] -- but that it is well-integrated with the first half, about a fellow cajoled into volunteering to go to Texas. Why was he so induced? There is no hint. I suspect that we have only a fragment of the song of the Volunteer to Texas, missing both the beginning and the end. - RBW
References
- Cambiaire, pp. 20-21, "The Soldier Boy" (1 text)
- Roud #11410
- BI, Cmb020