The Dubliners - The Kerry Recruit lyrics

One morning in March I was diggin' the land
With me brogues on me feet and
Me spade in me hand
And says I to myself, such a pity to see
Such a fine strappin' lad
Footin' turf round Tralee

Wid me toora na nye and me toora na nye
Wid me toora na noo ra na noo ra na nya

So I buttered me brogues
Shook hands with me spade
Then I went to the fair
Like a dashing young blade
When up comes a sergeant, he asks me to list
'Arra, sergeant a gra
Stick the bob in me fist'

Wid me toora na nye and me toora na nye
Wid me toora na noo ra na noo ra na nya

And the first thing they gave me
It was a red coat
With a white strap of leather
To tie round me throat
They gave me a quare thing
I asked what was that
And they told me it was a cockade for me hat

Wid me toora na nye and me toora na nye
Wid me toora na noo ra na noo ra na nya

The next thing they gave me
They called it a gun
With powder and shot and a place for me thumb
Well first it spat fire and
Then it spat smoke
Lord, she gave a great leap
That me shoulder near broke

Wid me toora na nye and me toora na nye
Wid me toora na noo ra na noo ra na nya

Well the first place they sent me
Was down by the quay
On board of a warship bound for the Crimea
Three sticks in the middle all
Rolled round with sheets
Faith, she walked on the
Water without any feet

Wid me toora na nye and me toora na nye
Wid me toora na noo ra na noo ra na nya

When at Balaclava we landed quite soon
Both 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 toora na nye and me toora na nye
Wid me toora na noo ra na noo ra na nya

Well we fought at the Alma
Likewise Inkermann
And the Russians they whaled us at the Redan
In scaling the wall there myself lost me eye
And a big Russian bullet she
Ran away with me thigh

Wid me toora na nye and me toora na nye
Wid me toora na noo ra na noo ra na nya

't Was there we lay bleeding
Stretched on the cold ground both heads
Legs and arms were all scattered around
I thought if me mam
And me cleaveens were nigh
Sure they'd bury me dacent and
Raise a loud cry

Wid me toora na nye and me toora na nye
Wid me toora na noo ra na noo ra na nya

Well a doctor was called
And he soon stanched me blood
And he gave me a fine
Elegant leg made of wood
They gave me a medal and ten pence a day
Contented with Sheelagh
I'll live on half pay

Wid me toora na nye and me toora na nye
Wid me toora na noo ra na noo ra na nya