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 \\

\textit{[Chorus] \\
Wid me too ra na nya with me too ra na nya, \\
Wid me too ra na noo ra na noo ra na nya \\}

Well I buttered me brogues, an shook hands with me spade, \\
An the way down the road like a dashing young blade \\
When up comes a sergeant an he asks me to list, \\
'Arra, sergeant a gra, stick a bob in me fist' \\

\textit{[Chorus] \\ }

Well here is a shilling as I got no more \\
When you get to headquarters you'll get half a score \\
And a quick strucking mean said the sergeant good bye \\
You'd not wish to be quarted neither would die \\

\textit{[Chorus] \\ }

Now the first thing they gave me it was a red coat, \\
With a wide strap of leather to tie round me throat \\
And the next thing they gave me I asked what was that, \\
And they told me it was a cockade for me hat \\

\textit{[Chorus] \\ }

An' the next thing they gave me they called it a gun \\
With powder an ball an' a place for me thumb \\
Well first it fire spat and then she spewed smoke, \\
An' they gave me out shoulders such a hell of a stroke \\

\textit{[Chorus] \\ }

Well the first place they sent me was down to the sea, \\
On the board of a warship bound for the Crimea \\
Three sticks in the middle all rowled round with sheets, \\
Lord, she walked on the water without any feet \\

\textit{[Chorus] \\ }

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 \\

\textit{[Chorus] \\ }

Well we fought at the Alma, likewise Inkermann, \\
But 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 \\

\textit{[Chorus] \\ }

Well 'tis off there we lay stretched upon the cold ground, \\
'Twas heads, legs and arms were all scattered around \\
I wished that me mam me cleaveens were nigh, \\
So they'd bury me decent and gave a loud cry \\

\textit{[Chorus] \\ }

Well they brought me a doctor and he soon staunched wi' blood, \\
And he made me a great elegant leg made of wood \\
They gave me a medal and ten pence a day, \\
So contented with Sheela, I'll live on half pay \\

\textit{[Chorus] \\ }