The King's Shilling - Karan Casey

Oh my love has left me with bairnes twa

And that’s the last of him I ever saw

He’s joined the army and marched to war

He took the shilling

He took the shilling and he’s off to war

Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar

Take the King’s shilling and you’re off to war

Well did he look as he marched along

With his kilt and sporran and his musket gun

And the ladies tipped him as he marched along

He sailed out by

He sailed out by the Broomielaw

The pipes did play as he marched along

And the soldiers sang out a battle song

«March on, march on,» cried the Captain gay

And for King and country

For King and country we will fight today

Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar

Take the King’s shilling and we’re off to war

The battle rattled to the sound of guns

And the bayonets flashed in the morning sun

The drums did beat and the cannons roared

And the shilling didn’t seem

The shilling didn’t seem much worth the war

Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar

Take the King’s shilling and we’re off to war

Well the men they fought and the men did fall

Cut down by bayonets and musket ball

And many of these brave young men

Would never fight for

Would never fight for the King again

Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar

Take the King’s shilling and we’re off to war

Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar

Take the King’s shilling and you’ll die in war