Dubliners - The Kerry Recruit Lyrics
One morning in March I was diggin' the landWith me brogues on me feet and me spade in me handAnd says I to myself, such a pity to seeSuch a fine strappin' lad footin' turf round TraleeWid me toora na nyeAnd me toora na nyeWid me toora na noo ra naNoo ra na nyaSo I buttered me brogues, shook hands with me spadeThen I went to the fair like a dashing young bladeWhen up comes a sergeant, he asks me to list'Arra, sergeant a gra, stick the bob in me fist'Wid me toora na nyeAnd me toora na nyeWid me toora na noo ra naNoo ra na nyaAnd the first thing they gave me it was a red coatWith a white strap of leather to tie round me throatThey gave me a quare thing; I asked what was thatAnd they told me it was a *****ade for me hatWid me toora na nyeAnd me toora na nyeWid me toora na noo ra naNoo ra na nyaThe next thing they gave me they called it a gunWith powder and shot and a place for me thumbWell first it spat fire and then it spat smokeLord, she gave a great leap that me shoulder near brokeWid me toora na nyeAnd me toora na nyeWid me toora na noo ra naNoo ra na nyaWell the first place they sent me was down by the quayOn board of a warship bound for the CrimeaThree sticks in the middle all rolled round with sheetsFaith, she walked on the water without any feetWid me toora na nyeAnd me toora na nyeWid me toora na noo ra naNoo ra na nyaWhen at Balaclava we landed quite soonBoth cold, wet and hungry we lay on the groundNext morning for action the bugle did callAnd we had a hot breakfast of powder and ballWid me toora na nyeAnd me toora na nyeWid me toora na noo ra naNoo ra na nyaWell we fought at the Alma, likewise InkermannAnd the Russians they whaled us at the RedanIn scaling the wall there myself lost me eyeAnd a big Russian bullet she ran away with me thighWid me toora na nyeAnd me toora na nyeWid me toora na noo ra naNoo ra na nya't Was there we lay bleedingStretched on the cold groundBoth heads, legs and arms were all scattered aroundI thought if me mam, and me cleaveens were nigh,Sure they'd bury me dacent and raise a loud cryWid me toora na nyeAnd me toora na nyeWid me toora na noo ra naNoo ra na nyaWell a doctor was calledAnd he soon stanched me bloodAnd he gave me a fine elegant leg made of woodThey gave me a medal and ten pence a dayContented with Sheelagh, I'll live on half-payWid me toora na nyeAnd me toora na nyeWid me toora na noo ra naNoo ra na nya
