Annotation:Spanish Cavalier
X: 1 T: Spanish Cavalier S: Viola Ruth "Pioneer Western Folk Tunes" 1948 p.20 #2 R: march Z: 2019 John Chambers <jc:trillian.mit.edu> N: Bar 5 has an extra 8th-note; not fixed because there are several ways to fix it. M: 4/4 L: 1/8 K: G V: 1 name="55" D |DB B>B B3 (G/F/) | E2 c>c c3 E |D2 (FA) e2 d>e | d4 B3d | d2 GB d3 (MdMd) | e2 (cA) E3 E |MDMD(.F.A) (d^c=cF) | A4 G3D || |:D2 [BG]>[BG] [B3G3] (G/F/) | E2 c>B [c4E4] |D2 (FA) e2 (d^c) | d4 B3 d | d2 (GB) d3 (Md/Md/) | MeMe (cA) E3 _E |MDMD(FA) (d^c=cF) |[1 A4 G3D :|[2 (A4 G2) Bd | Hg6 z2 :|
SPANISH CAVALIER. American, March (4/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). ABB'. "The Spanish Cavalier" was a parlor song by William Henrickson first published in 1881 and recorded in the 78 RPM era by Georgia guitarist and singer Riley Puckett (Columbia 15003 D, 1924). Henrickson joined the Navy but jumped ship when it docked in Panama, an adventure that led him to enlist in the Panamanian Army as a drummer boy. When he worked his way back to San Francisco he was arrested as a deserter, but found assistance via the daughter of a U.S. congressman who helped shield him from consequences. The song is said to be inspired by her kindness, and was set to a tune that he picked up in Panama. Fred Coots adapted the tune in 1931 for his song "Love Letters in the Sand," which later became a hit for singer Pat Boone.
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.
