“The Spanish Cavalier”

Description

The Spanish Cavalier plays his guitar under a tree, asking his sweetheart to be true while he is off to war. He promises to return if he lives, and asks her to seek him if he dies

Supplemental text

Spanish Cavalier, The
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

The Spanish Cabineer

From Louise Pound, American Ballads and Songs, #106, p. 218.
From a text collected by Lillian Gear Boswell near Junction,
Wyoming in 1913.

The Spanish cabineer stood under a tree
  And on his gautar played a tone, dear,
The music so sweet I often repeat,
  Remember what I say and be true, dear.

    Say darling, say, when I am far away,
      Sometimes you may think of me, dear.
    Bright sunny days, will soon pass away,
      Remember what I say and be true, dear.

Off to the war, to the war I must go,
  To fight for my country and you, dear,
And if I should fall, in vain I would call,
  For blessings on you and my country.

When the war is over, to you I'll return,
  Back to my country and you, dear;
But if I am slain you might seek me in vain,
  On the battlefield you will find me.

          *** B ***

From the 1887 edition of _Merchant's Gargling Oil Songster_ (which
in fact shows a Spanish-looking man playing a lute-like instrument
to a girl on the cover), p. 19.

A Spanish cavalier stood in his retreat,
  And on his guitar played a tune, dear,
The music so sweet, they'd oft-times repeat,
  The blessing of my country and you, dear.

Chorus -- Say, darling, say, when I'm far away,
            Sometimes you may think of me, dear,
          Bright sunny days will soon fade away,
            Remember what I say and be true, dear.

I am off to the war, to the war I must go,
  To fight for my country and your, dear,
But if I should fall in vain I would call,
  The blessings of my country and you, dear.

And when the war is o'er to you I'll return;
  Back to my country and you, dear,
But if I be slain you may seek me in vain;
  Upon the battle field you will find me.

Notes

My 1887 _Merchant's Gargling Oil Songster_ lists this song as being copyrighted in the name of Gwo. W. Hagans, but this was simply a publishing house. The author is not listed. - RBW

Recordings

• Riley Puckett, "Spanish Cavalier" (Columbia 15003-D, c. 1924)

References

1. LPound-ABS, 106, p. 218, "The Spanish Cabineer" (1 text)
2. ST LPnd218 (Full)
3. Roud #2684
4. BI, LPnd218