More on Poor Scouser Tommy - as said earlier the second section (I am a Liverpudlian) was written by Peter "Jig" Daly. The first bit has a longer history:
The original British army version is this:
From this valley they say you are going
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
For they say you are taking the sunshine
That has brightened our pathways awhile
CHORUS:
Come and sit by my side, if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
Just remember the Red River Valley
And the cowboy who loved you so true
I've been thinking a long time, my darling
Of the sweet words you never would say
Now, alas, must my fond hopes all vanish
For they say you are gong away
Do you think of the valley you're leaving
O how lonely and how dreary it will be
And do you think of the kind hearts you're breaking
And the pain you are causing to me
CHORUS
They will bury me where you have wandered
Near the hills where the daffodils grow
When you're gone from the Red River Valley
For I can't live without you I know
there's also a USA Vietnam version
To the Red River Valley we are going,
For to get us some trains and some trucks.
But if I had my say so about it,
I'd still be at home in the sack.
Come and sit by my side at the briefing,
Do not hasten to bid me adieu.
To the Red River Valley we're going,
And I'm flying four in Flight Blue.
We went for to check on the weather,
And they said it was clear as could be.
I lost my wingman 'round the field,
And the rest augered in out at sea.
S-2 said there's no flak where we're going,
S-2 said there's no flak on the way.
There's a dark overcast o'er the target,
I'm beginning to doubt what they say.
To the valley they say we are going,
And many strange sights will we see.
But the one there that held my attention,
Was the SAM that they threw up at me.
To the valley he said he was flying,
And he never saw the medal that he earned.
Many jocks have flown into the valley,
And a number have never returned.
So I listened as he briefed on the mission,
Tonight at the bar Teak Flight will sing.
But we're going to the Red River Valley,
And today you are flying my wing.
Oh, the flak is so thick in the valley,
That the MiGs and the SAMs we don't need.
So fly high and down-sun in the valley,
And guard well the ass of Teak Lead.
Now things turn to shit in the valley,
And the briefing I gave, you don't heed.
They'll be waiting at the Hanoi Hilton,
And it's fish heads and rice for Teak Lead.
We refueled on the way to the valley,
In the States it had always been fun.
But with thunder and lightning all around us,
'twas the last A. A. R. for Teak One.
When he came to a bridge in the valley,
He saw a duty that he couldn't shun.
For the first to roll in on the target,
Was my leader, old Teak Number One.
Oh, he flew through the flak toward the target,
With his bombs and his rockets drew a bead.
But he never pulled out of his bomb run,
'twas fatal for another Teak Lead.
So come sit by my side at the briefing,
We will sit there and tickle the beads.
For we're going to the Red River Valley,
And my call sign for today is Teak Lead.
The very first version dates from the 1860s
"So remember the valley you're leaving, Do not hasten to bid me adieu, But remember the Red River Valley..."
Who hasn't heard the words from the classic Red River Valley? Although many are familiar with the Texas version of the song, research by Canadian folklorist Edith Fowke, shows the song originated among British troops who came to Manitoba, the Red River Valley of the North. The time was the late 1860's during the famous Metis rebellion. The uprising was lead by Louis Riel of Metis (half French, half aboriginal) descent and his friends against British rule before Manitoba's eventual inclusion in Canada in 1870. A statue of Louis Riel in nearby Winnipeg now recognizes Riel as the first leader of Manitoba, something the British government was not willing to recognize and eventually had Louis Riel hanged for treason.
Like "Fraulein" and all the other soldier's-sweetheart songs, "Red River Valley" is a song of military occupation. This original text is somewhat different from the versions we hear today. Because of some of the terms in it, it is politically incorrect, however, it paints a picture of what life was like for a Metis maiden, sad that her love is leaving her.
Red River Valley
It's a long time, you know, I've been waiting For the words that you never did say, Now alas! all my fond hopes have vanished, For they say you are going away.
From this valley they say you are going. I shall miss your blue eyes and sweet smile, For you take with you all of the sunshine That has brightened my pathway a while.
So consider a while ere you leave me, Do not hasten to bid me adieu, But
remember the Red River Valley And the half-breed who loved you so true.
So remember the valley you're leaving, How lonely, how dreary it will be;
Remember the heart you are breaking, And be true to your promise to me.
As you go to your home by the ocean, May you never forget those sweet hours
That we spent in the Red River Valley And the love we exchanged in its bowers.
