Listen to the song and listen to the story of Arthur McBride who did not want to join the British Army.
Paul Brady sings (tells the story) and playes the guitar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBGkhPx529g&feature=related
I had a first cousin called Arthur McBride
He and I took a stroll down by the seaside;
Seeking good fortune and what might betide
It was just as the day was a’dawnin’After restin’ we both took a tramp
We met Sergeant Harper and Corporal Cramp
Besides the wee drummer who beat up the camp
With his row-dee-dow-dow in the morningHe says my young fellows if you will enlist
A guinea you quickly will have in your fist
Besides a crown for to kick up the dust
And drink the King’s health in the morningFor a soldier he leads a very fine life
He always is blessed with a charming young wife
And he pays all his debts without sorrow or strife
And always lives happy and charmingAnd a soldier he always is decent and clean
In the finest of garments he’s constantly seen
While other poor fellows go dirty and mean
And sup on thin gruel in the morningSays Arthur, I wouldn’t be proud of your clothes
You’ve only the lend of them as I suppose
And you dare not change them one night or you know
If you do you’ll be flogged in the morningAnd although we are single and free
We take great delight in our own company
And we have no desire strange countries to see
Although your offer is charmingAnd we have no desire to take your advance
All hazards and danger we barter on chance
and you’d have no scruples to send us to France
Where we would be shot without warningAnd now says the sergeant, if I hear but one word
I’ll instantly now will out with my sword
And into your bodies as strength will afford
So now my gay devils take warningBut Arthur and I we took the odds
We gave them no chance to launch out their swords
Whacking shillelaghs came over their heads
And paid them right smart in the morningAs for the wee drummer, we rifled his pow
And made a football of his row-do-dow-dow
Into the ocean to rock and to roll
And bade it a tedious returnin’As for the old rapier that hung by his side
We flung it as far as we could in the tide
To the Devil I pitch you, says Arthur McBride
To temper your steel in the morning
Paul Brady sings Arthur McBride
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Sat Shri Akal
Ah, Harjinder Ji, we were young and going to change the world….
You were there in Ireland at time?
i listened to the song and was thinking all the time of Kamalla Rose Kaur…funny.
Dear Manpreet Kaur,
I thought about KRK as well when I posted this song.
I ‘initiated’ into ‘Irishness’ by my friend Yvo Meihuizen, with whom in 1969 I made this wonderful 6 week journey from Amsterdam to Grimsby and from there north to Edinburgh, to Glasgow, south to Stranrear and from there across to Larne just north of Belfast and following the Irish coast to Cork, Cork to Dublin, Dublin to Holyhead, Holyhead to London and then via Dover – Oostende through Flanders back to Amsterdam.
It was absolutely magic ….
Yes we were young and wanted to change the world, but we were also very romantic and old fashioned. And we ate too many baked beans, had a good many pints of guinness and we farted a lot …
Gurfateh,
Harjinder Singh
Haha, Harjinder, thank God you didn’t sleep in gurdwara’s at that time…. i mean with all the farting and that!
So stay away from the toast with beans! I think ( actually i am pretty sure about it) dahl suits you better!
But it seemed a nice trip you had.. crossing the island up and down, finally ending up in Southall… who would have expected that in those days….
Hope you are fine, have a nice weekend brother.
Stay in Chardi Kala.
Your blog is interesting!
Keep up the good work!
Thanks Alex,
I am a Sikh which I think is obvious from the blog, but I love beautiful songs of any type.
If you have any further comments or questions I would love to hear from you.
Kind Regards, Gurfateh,
Harjinder Singh