Digital Tradition Mirror

Black Freighter/Wife of a Soldier

Black Freighter/Wife of a Soldier
(Bertholt Brecht)

What did the wife of the soldier get
From the ancient city of Prague?
From Prague she got the linen skirt.
It matched her shirt did the linen skirt
She got from the city of Prague.

What did the wife of the soldier get
From Brussels, the Belgian town?
From Brussels she got the delicate lace.
All the charm and grace of the delicate lace
She got from the Belgian town.

What did the wife of the soldier get
From Paris, the City of Light?
From Paris she got the silken dress.
Born to possess the silken dress
She got from the City of Light.

What did the wife of the soldier get
From Libya's desert sands?
From Libya, the little charm.
Around and around she wore the charm
He brought from the desert sands.

What did the wife of the soldier get
From Russia's distant steppes?
From Russia she got the widow's veil.
And the end of the tale is the widow's veil
She got from the distant steppes.

This version is ""Wife of the Soldier"" from the County
Down album ""Living in the Country"" (Fretless 165).
Words by Bertholt Brecht, and tune by Johnny Scot
(translator not credited)

CB
oct99

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!