Fighting For Strangers
A recruiting sergeant came out way
To an Inn nearby at the close of day,
He said young Johnny you’re a fine young man
Would you like to march along behind a military band,.
With a scarlet coat and a big tin hat,
And a shield upon your shoulder.
The silver he took and he kissed the book,
Oh poor Johnny what’ll happen to you.
The recruiting sergeant marched away
From the Inn nearby at the break of day,
Johnny went too with half a ring
He was off to be a soldier, he’d be fighting for a King
In a far off war in a far off land,
To face a foreign soldier
But how will you fare when there’s blood in the air
Oh poor Johnny what’ll happen to you
The sun shone hot on a barren land
As a thin red line took a military stand,
There were great swords, broadswords, short swords too
Spears and halberds thrusting through,
Poor Johnny fell but the day was won
And the King is grateful to you
But your soldiering’s done and they’re sending you home,
Oh poor Johnny what have they done too you.
They said he was a hero and not to grieve
Over two wooden pegs and his empty sleeves
They carried him home and set him down
With a military pension and a medal from the crown.
You haven’t an arm, you haven’t a leg,
The enemy nearly slew you.
You’ll have to go out on the streets to beg,
Oh poor Johnny what have they done to you.
OOC By Steeleye Span, from their eponymous album
All Works are © Original Author