Digital Tradition Mirror

The King's Shilling

The King's Shilling

Oh my love has left me wi' bairnies twa
And that's the last o' him I ever saw
He's joined the army and he marched awa'
He took the shillin'
He took the shillin' and he marched awa'

  Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar
  Tak' the King's shilling an' we're off tae war

Oh he looked sae prood and sae gallant then
Wi' his kilt and sporran an' his musket gun
And the ladies kissed them as they marched awa'
And they sailed awa' boys
They sailed awa', boys, by the Broomielaw

The pipes they played as they marched along
And the men they sang oot a battle song
"March on, march on," cried our Captain gay
And for King and country
For King and country we will fight this day

The battle echoed tae the sound o' guns
And bayonets flashed in the morning sun
The drums did beat and the cannons roared
And the shillin' didn't seem
The shillin' didn't seem much worth no more

Some lost the battle their bodies fell
Cut doon by bayonets and musket ball
And many o' these brave young men
Would never fight for
Would never fight for their King again

Oh my love has left me wi' bairnies twa
And that's the last o' him I ever saw
He's joined the army and he marched awa'
He took the shillin'
He took the shillin' and he marched awa'

sung by Jean Redpath
SOF

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!

Contents: ? A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Main Page