Tuesday 1 January 2013

Willard's Leap ~ Bold Wolfe


The bumph reads
The death of General Wolfe on the plains of Abraham during the taking of Quebec provided the ballad-mongers with a great subject which they seized gladly. This text contains the curious idea that Wolfe and the French general Montcalm walked together chatting like brothers before retiring to their own lines to let battle commence. This song (not to be confused with Bold General Wolfe) has not been found in England, but in America, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, from where this version comes. (Martin Carthy) With Acknowledgement : www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/~zierke/watersons/songs/bravewolfe.html
 Come all ye young men all let this delight you 
Come all ye young men all let nothing fright you 
Never let your courage fail when you're brought to trial 
Nor let your fancy move at the first denial 
This brave undaunted youth has crossed the ocean 
To free America was his intention He landed at Quebec with all his party 
The city to attack being brave and hearty Bold Wolfe drew up his men in a line so pretty 
On the Plains of Abraham before the city 
The French came marching down in hopes to meet them 
With a double number round resolved to beat them 
Montcalm and this brave youth together walked 
Between two armies they like brothers talked 
Till each one to his post then did retire 
Twas then these numerous hosts commenced their fire 
 The drums did loudly beat and the colours flying 
The purple dawn did stream and men lay dying 
And shot from off his horse fell that brave hero We'll long lament his loss in tears of sorrow 
He lifted up his head when the guns did rattle 
And to his aide said, How goes the battle?
Quebec is all our own none can prevent it 
Oh then, replies bold Wolfe, I die contented

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