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The Recruited Collier Lyrics
"What's the matter with you, me lass, and where's your dashing Jimmy?"
"Them soldier boys have picked him up and taken him far from me
Last pay-day he went into town and them red-coated fellows,
Enticed him in and made him drunk, and he'd better gone to the gallows.
The very sight of his cockade, it sets us all a-cryin', And me, I nearly fainted twice - I thought that I was dyin'
Me father said he'd pay the smart and he'd run for the Golden Guinea,
But the sergeant swore he'd kissed the book, so now they've got young Jimmy.
When Jimmy talks about the wars, it's worse than death to hear him.
I must go out and hide me tears, because I cannot bear him.
A Brigadier or a Grenadier he says they're sure to make him,
So now he jibes and cracks his jokes and bids me not forsake him.
As I walked o'er yon stubbled field - below where runs the seam,
I think on Jimmy hewing there, but it was all a dream.
He hewed the very coils we burn, so when this fire I'm leetin',
To think the lumps was in his hands - it sets me heart a-beating'.
So break me heart and then it's o'er, oh break me heart, me dearie,
As I lie in this cold, cold bed, of a single life I'm weary."
"Them soldier boys have picked him up and taken him far from me
Last pay-day he went into town and them red-coated fellows,
Enticed him in and made him drunk, and he'd better gone to the gallows.
Me father said he'd pay the smart and he'd run for the Golden Guinea,
But the sergeant swore he'd kissed the book, so now they've got young Jimmy.
I must go out and hide me tears, because I cannot bear him.
A Brigadier or a Grenadier he says they're sure to make him,
So now he jibes and cracks his jokes and bids me not forsake him.
I think on Jimmy hewing there, but it was all a dream.
He hewed the very coils we burn, so when this fire I'm leetin',
To think the lumps was in his hands - it sets me heart a-beating'.
As I lie in this cold, cold bed, of a single life I'm weary."
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Appears to be about a guy who gets drunk and joins the service, leaving his girl behind. At least thats what I think she's getting at. No matter, as Kate has probably the most beautiful voice ever put to music. She is completely, utterly mesmerizing
In the late 18th Century the British army was made up of regiments who did their own recruiting. The recruiting sergeants would go around the towns of the area getting lads to join by persuasion, trickery. By the time of the American Revolutionary War, pressing was made legal, it already was for the navy. One way of pressing was to arrest men for being drunk. Others were on release from prison. They weren't exactly glad to be so far from home fighting against folks who fighting gladly for their own home. When you you reenact your battles and celebrate Independence think of the poor redcoat lads who had none.
So Jimmy takes his little bit of pay and goes to the town, maybe for something for the home or her. It doesn't say to get drunk, it says while he was there the recruiting sergeant got him drunk and signed him to the colours. They try to get him out, her dad says he'll take the sting of a Guinea to claim him out, but the sergeant says he kissed the book (swore an oath on the Bible) so all's lost. poor Jimmy is off to fight the King's wars Maybe he was at Bunker Hill or Saratogo, maybe it was Waterloo. She poor lass is heartbroken.