The Kerry Recruit

One morning in March I was digging the land,
With me brogues on me feet and me spade in me hand.
Says I to meself, such a pity to see,
Such a fine strapping lad cutting turf round Tralee.

So I buttered me brogues, shook hands with me spade,
And went off to the fair like a dashing young blade,
When up comes the sergeant, he asks me to 'list
And Sergeant McGraw stuck a bob in me fist.

The first thing they gave me it was a red coat,
With a wide strap of leather to tie round me throat.
They gave me a queer thing I asked what was that,
And they told me it was a cockade for me hat.

The next thing they gave me they called it a gun,
With powder and shot and a place for me thumb.
Well first she spat fire and then she spat smoke,
She gave a great leap and me shoulder near broke.

The first place they sent me was down to the quay,
To board a warship bound for the Crimee.
Three sticks in the middle all rolled round with sheet,
It walked on the water without any feet.

'Twas at Balaclava we landed quite sound,
Cold, wet and hungry, we lay on the ground.
Next morning for breakfast the bugle did call,
And we had a hot breakfast of powder and ball.

We fought at the Alma, likewise Inkerman,
And the Russians they quailed us at Redan.
In scaling the wall, there meself lost an eye,
And a great Russian bullet ran away with me thigh.

'Twas there I lay bleeding stretched on the cold ground,
Head, legs and arms lay scattered around.
I called for me mum, and me pleadings went nigh,
Be sure they bury me decent and raise a loud cry.

Well a doctor was called and he soon staunched me blood
And they gave me a fine elegant leg made of wood.
They gave me a pension to two pence a day,
Contented with Shelagh I live on half pay.

Score
Click this link to go to the music score of this song.

Return to Songbook

Return to Home Page