The smoke was slowly rising as the light began to fade,
There were fires on the skyline from some distant border raid.
And I was riding out at seventeen to join my first brigade
Many years ago.
And I chanced upon a farmhouse where the woman took me in,
She gave me food and wine; she gave me shelter from the wind.
She delayed me from my regiment, and service of my king
Many years ago.
She said:
"Soldier, before I lose you to the fight,
Oh my soldier, I'll make a man of you tonight."
She took me over
In the fading fire-glow,
On that wild and misty night she was my woman.
And when I rose next morning I was gone before she stirred,
I tore myself away from there and left without a word.
The sound of distant infantry was the only thing I heared
On that morning.
And in that day I aged ten years and died a thousand deaths,
I learned the feel of frozen steel and fear within my breast.
But the lesson I'll remember till they lay me to my rest
Keeps returning.
Soldier, before I lose you to the fight,
Oh my soldier, I'll make a man of you tonight.
She took me over
In the fading fire-glow,
On that wild and misty night she was my woman.
And when the dice of war were thrown and victory was won,
My drunken young compatriots went out to have their fun.
And there was no single house they did not burn or over-run,
On that evening.
So I rode out to that place again as hard as I could ride,
But I found her by the trail along the lonely mountainside.
In the hands of those brave friends of mine she suffered and she died,
Many years ago.
Soldier, before I lose you to the fight,
Oh my soldier, I'll make a man of you tonight.
She took me over
In the fading fire-glow,
On that wild and misty night she was my woman.