75 lines
2.3 KiB
XML
75 lines
2.3 KiB
XML
#columns(2, gutter: 11pt)[
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About four years ago I was digging the land \
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With me brogues on me feet and me spade in me hand \
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Says I to me self, what a pity to see, \
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Such a fine strapping lad footing turf round Tralee \
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_[Chorus] \
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Wid me too ra na nya with me too ra na nya, \
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Wid me too ra na noo ra na noo ra na nya_
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Well I buttered me brogues, an shook hands with me spade, \
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An the way down the road like a dashing young blade \
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When up comes a sergeant an he asks me to list, \
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'Arra, sergeant a gra, stick a bob in me fist' \
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_[Chorus]_
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Well here is a shilling as I got no more \
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When you get to headquarters you'll get half a score \
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And a quick strucking mean said the sergeant good bye \
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You'd not wish to be quarted neither would die \
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_[Chorus]_
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Now the first thing they gave me it was a red coat, \
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With a wide strap of leather to tie round me throat \
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And the next thing they gave me I asked what was that, \
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And they told me it was a cockade for me hat \
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_[Chorus]_
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An' the next thing they gave me they called it a gun \
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With powder an ball an' a place for me thumb \
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Well first she spat fire and then she spewed smoke, \
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She gave a great leap and me shoulder near broke \
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_[Chorus]_
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Well the first place they sent me was down to the sea, \
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On the board of a warship bound for the Crimea \
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Three sticks in the middle all rowled round with sheets, \
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Lord, she walked on the water without any feet \
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_[Chorus]_
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When at Balaclava we landed quite sound, \
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Cold, wet and hungry we lay on the ground \
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Next morning for action the bugle did call, \
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And we had a hot breakfast of powder and ball \
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_[Chorus]_
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Well we fought at the Alma, likewise Inkermann, \
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But the Russians they whaled us at the Redan \
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In scalin' the walls there meself lost an eye, \
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And a big Russian bullet ran off with me thigh \
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_[Chorus]_
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Well 'tis off there we lay stretched upon the cold ground, \
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'Twas heads, legs and arms were all scattered around \
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Says I, If me mam and me claveens were nigh, \
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So they'd bury me decent and gave a loud cry \
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_[Chorus]_
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Well they brought me a doctor and he soon staunched wi' blood, \
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And he made me a great elegant leg made of wood \
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They gave me a medal and ten pence a day, \
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So contented with Sheila, I'll live on half pay \
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_[Chorus]_
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]
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