The Collier Recruit

O what's the matter wi' you my lass

And where's your dashing Jimmy?

O, the soldier boys have ta'en him up

And sent him far, far from me

Last payday he went off to town

And them red-coated fellows

Enticed him in and made him drunk

And he's better gone to the gallows.

The very sight of his cockade

It sets us all a'crying

And me I nearly fainted twice

I thought that I was dying

My father would have paid the smart

And he ran for the golden guinea

But the sergeant swore he'd kissed the book

And now they've got young Jimmy.

When Jimmy talks about the wars

It's worse than death to hear him

I have to go and hide my face

Because I cannot bear him

A brigadier or grenadier

He says they're bound to make him

But aye he laughs and cracks his jokes

And bids me not forsake him.

As I walked ower the stubble fields

Below it runs the seam

I thought of Jimmy hewing there

But it was all a dream

He hewed the very coals we burn

And when the fire I'm lighting

To think the coals was in his hands

It sets my heart to beating

So break my heart and then it's ower

So break my heart my dearie

And lay me in the cold ground

For of single life I'm weary