The Kerry Recruit

'The Kerry Recruit' is an Erse sang, written in Inglis, tawkin o the Crimean Weir whilka teuk place frae 1853 antil 1856 atween a coalition mad up frae Ingland, Fraunce, Sardinia an the Ottoman Empire agains Roushie. The names o the places mentionit in the sang are richt battlefiels.

Battlefieds mentionit in the sang

The Kerry lad who sings is said tae hae (it's a story, dinae forget!) survived tae a lot o horrible an bloody battlefields whilka are:

• The Battle o Alma in September 1854,
• The Battle o Balaklava on 25 October 1854, whilka wis parteecularly terrible,
• The Battle o Inkermann in November 1854.
• The Battle o Redan. He haes haed heivy injures while assaultin.

The Kerry Recruit is written in line wi the anti-militairy tradeetion whilka stairtit at the time o the Napoleon Wars.

Text o the 'Kerry Recruit'

(Thare are ither versions, but this ane is the maist kent.)

About four years ago I was diggin the land

With(=wi) me brogues on me feet and me spade in me hand

Says I to meself, what a pity to see,

Such a fine strappin' lad footin' turf in Tralee

Wid me too ra na nya with me too ra na nya,

Wid me too ra na noo ra na noo ra na nya

Well I buttered me brogues, an shook hands with me spade,

An the way down the road like a dashing young blade

When up comes a sergeant an he asks me to list,

'Arra, sergeant a gra, stick a bob in me fist'

Wid me too ra na nya with me too ra na nya,

Wid me too ra na noo ra na noo ra na nya

Well here is a shilling as I got no more

When you'll get to have quarters you will have a score

And a quick strucking mean said the sergeant good bye

You'd not wish to be quarted neither would die

Wid me too ra na nya with me too ra na nya,

Wid me too ra na noo ra na noo ra na nya

Nau the first thing they gave me it was a red coat,

With a wide strap of leather to tie round me throat

An the next thing they gave me I asked what was that,

And they told me it was a cockarde for me hat

Wid me too ra na nya with me too ra na nya,

Wid me too ra na noo ra na noo ra na nya

An' the next thing they gave me they called it a gun

With powder an bow an' a place for me thumb

Well first it fire spat and then she spute smoke,

An' they gave me out shoulders such a hair lover stroke

Wid me too ra na nya with me too ra na nya,

Wid me too ra na noo ra na noo ra na nya

Well the first place they sent me was downed to the see,

On the board of a warship bound for the Crimea

Three sticks in the middle all rowled round with sheets,

Lord, she walked on (or thro' depends o the version) the water without any feet

Wid me too ra na nya with me too ra na nya,

Wid me too ra na noo ra na noo ra na nya

When at Balaclava we landed quite soon,

Cold, wet and hungry we lay on the ground

Next morning for action the bugle did call,

And we had a hot breakfast of powder and ball

Wid me too ra na nya with me too ra na nya,

Wid me too ra na noo ra na noo ra na nya

Well we fought at the Alma, likewise Inkermann,

But the Russians they whaled us at the Redan

In scalin' the walls there meself lost an eye,

And a big Russian bullet ran off with me thigh

Wid me too ra na nya with me too ra na nya,

Wid me too ra na noo ra na noo ra na nya

Well 't is off there we lay stretched upon the cold ground,

'T was heads, legs and arms were all scattered around

I wished that me mam me cleaveens were nigh,

So they'd bury me decent and gave a loud cry

Wid me too ra na nya with me too ra na nya,

Wid me too ra na noo ra na noo ra na nya

Well they brought me a doctor and he soon staunched wi' blood,

And he made me a great elegant leg made of wood

They gave me a medal and ten pence a day,

So contented with Sheela, I'll live on half pay

Wid me too ra na nya with me too ra na nya,

Wid me too ra na noo ra na noo ra na nya

Interpretaitions

Som fowksingers interpreitit this sang. Luke Kelly, far example, is ane o thaim: bat awso Ronnie Drew, Bob Lynch, John Connoly.