Songs of Jamaica (1912)
My Soldier-Lad
SEE yonder soldier-lad
In Zouave jacket clad?
His lovin’ heart is mine,
His heart so bright an’ glad;
My soul an’ spirit combine
To love my soldier-lad.
O my dear lilly soldier-lad,
I am true an’ so are you;
And oh, my lovin’ heart is glad,
For I know that you are true.
My pretty soldier-boy,
He is my only joy:
He loves me with his might,
A love without alloy,
My one, my true delight,
My pretty soldier-boy.
O my dear lilly soldier-lad, etc.
My own lee soldier true,
He is a bandsman too;
An’ when he’s in the stand,
His sweet eyes playin’ blue,
He carries off the band,
My handsome soldier true.
O my dear lilly soldier-lad, etc.
My precious lilly pet,
He plays a clarinet:
De gals dem envy me,
But him they cannot get;
Dem hate we both to see,
Me an’ my precious pet.
O my dear lilly soldier-lad, etc.
Where coolin’ breezes blow,
An’ silvery gullies flow
Do’n t’rough de bamboo grove,
The amorous pea-doves coo:
They’re cooin’ of my love,
While freshenin’ breezes blow.
O my dear lilly soldier-lad, etc.
My dear Bermudan lad
In baggy trousies clad,
I love you wid whole heart,
A heart that’s true an’ glad;
Our love can never part,
My darlin’ bandsy lad.
O my dear lilly soldier-lad, etc.