The Kerry Recruit

"The Kerry Recruit" is an Irish song referring to the Crimean War. The song's lyrics are from the point of view of an Irish soldier (from County Kerry).

Rumour has it, that if you were around during the playing of "The Kerry Recruit" during the Crimean War, you were to be thrown in jail.

The lyrics of the song:

About four years ago I was digging the land With me brogues on me feet and me spade in me hand Says I to me self, what a pity to see, Such a fine strapping lad footing turf round Tralee Well I buttered me brogues, an' shook hands with me spade, An' away to the fair, like a dashing young blade When up comes a sergeant an he asks me to 'list, Dhera, sergeant a ghrá, stick a bob in me fist! Now the first thing they gave me it was a red coat, With a wide strap of leather to tie round me throat Then they gave me a quare thing, I asked what was that, They told me it was a cockade for me hat The next thing they gave me, they called it a gun, With powder an ball an' a place for me thumb. Well first she spat fire, and then she spewed smoke, An' she gave me oul shoulders a hell of a stroke Well the first place they sent me was down by the sea, 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! When at Balaclava we landed quite sound, 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 Well we fought at the Alma, likewise Inkermann, But the Russians they whiled us at the Redan In scalin' the walls there, meself lost an eye, And a big Russian bullet ran away with me thigh. Well they brought me a doctor, he soon staunched me blood, Then they gave me an elegant leg made of wood. They gave me a medal and tenpence a day, Contented with Síle, I'll live on half pay.