The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Oh my love has left me wi' bairnies twa
And that's the last o' him I ever saw
He's joined the army and he marched awa'
He took the shillin'
He took the shillin' and he marched awa'
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar
Take the King's shilling an' we're off tae war
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar
Take the King's shilling an' we're off tae war
He looked so fine as he marched along
Wi' his kilt and sporran an' his musket gun
And the ladies kissed them as they marched awa'
He sailed out by
They sailed out by the Berwick Law
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar
Take the King's shilling an' we're off tae war
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar
Take the King's shilling an' we're off tae war
The pipes did play as he marched along
And soldiers sang out a battle song
"March on, march on," cried the Captain gay
For King and country
For King and country we will fight today
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar
Take the King's shilling an' we're off tae war
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar
Take the King's shilling an' we're off tae war
The battle rattled tae the sound o' guns
And bayonets flashed in the morning sun
The drums did beat and the cannons roar
And the shillin' didn't seem
The shillin' didn't seem much worth the war
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar
Take the King's shilling an' we're off tae war
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar
Take the King's shilling an' we're off tae war
And on they fought and the men did fall
Cut down by bayonet and musket ball
And many o' these brave young men
Would never fight for
Would never fight for their King again
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar
Take the King's shilling an' we're off tae war
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar
Take the King's shilling an' we're off tae war
And that's the last o' him I ever saw
He's joined the army and he marched awa'
He took the shillin'
He took the shillin' and he marched awa'
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar
Take the King's shilling an' we're off tae war
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar
Take the King's shilling an' we're off tae war
He looked so fine as he marched along
Wi' his kilt and sporran an' his musket gun
And the ladies kissed them as they marched awa'
He sailed out by
They sailed out by the Berwick Law
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar
Take the King's shilling an' we're off tae war
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar
Take the King's shilling an' we're off tae war
The pipes did play as he marched along
And soldiers sang out a battle song
"March on, march on," cried the Captain gay
For King and country
For King and country we will fight today
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar
Take the King's shilling an' we're off tae war
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar
Take the King's shilling an' we're off tae war
The battle rattled tae the sound o' guns
And bayonets flashed in the morning sun
The drums did beat and the cannons roar
And the shillin' didn't seem
The shillin' didn't seem much worth the war
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar
Take the King's shilling an' we're off tae war
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar
Take the King's shilling an' we're off tae war
And on they fought and the men did fall
Cut down by bayonet and musket ball
And many o' these brave young men
Would never fight for
Would never fight for their King again
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar
Take the King's shilling an' we're off tae war
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar
Take the King's shilling an' we're off tae war
Lyrics submitted by AnnaClaire
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