One morning in March I was digging the land,
with me brogues on me feet
and me spade in me hand
And says I to myself, such a pity to see,
such a fine strappin' lad footin' turf round Tralee.
Wid
me too ra na nya and me too ra na nya,
wid me too ra na noo ra na noo ra na nya.
So I buttered me brogues, shook
hands with me spade,
then went off to the fair like a dashing young blade
When up comes a sergeant he asks me to list,
'Arra, sergeant a gra, stick a bob in me fist.
Wid me too ra na nya and me too ra na nya,
wid me too ra na noo
ra na noo ra na nya.
Well 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 quare thing I asked what was that,
and they told me it was a cockade for me hat.
Wid me too ra na nya and me too ra na nya,
wid me too ra na noo ra na noo
ra na nya.
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.
Wid me too ra na
nya and me too ra na nya,
wid me too ra na noo ra na noo ra na nya.
Well the first place they sent me was down by
the quay,
on board of a warship bound for the Crimea
Three sticks in the middle all rowled round with sheets,
faith,
she walked on the water without any feet.
Wid me too ra na nya and me too ra na nya,
wid me too ra na noo ra na
noo ra na nya.
When at Balaclava we landed quite soon,
both cold, wet and hungry we lay on the ground
Next morning
for action the bugle did call,
and we had a hot breakfast of powder and ball.
Wid me too ra na nya and me too ra
na nya,
wid me too ra na noo ra na noo ra na nya.
Well we fought at the Alma, likewise Inkermann,
and the Russians
they whaled us at the Redan
In scalin' the walls there meself lost an eye,
and a big Russian bullet ran off with me
thigh.
Wid me too ra na nya and me too ra na nya,
wid me too ra na noo ra na noo ra na nya.
'Twas there we
lay bleeding stretched on the cold ground,
both heads, legs and arms were all scattered around
I thought of me mam
and me cleaveens were nigh,
sure they'd bury me decent and raise a loud cry.
Wid me too ra na nya and me too ra
na nya,
wid me too ra na noo ra na noo ra na nya.
Well a doctor was called and he soon staunched me blood,
and
he gave me a fine elegant leg made of wood
They gave me a medal and ten pence a day,
contented with Sheelagh, I'll
live on half pay.
Wid me too ra na nya and me too ra na nya,
wid me too ra na noo ra na noo ra na nya.
