Arthur McBride - A Traditional Irish Folk Song

Hi Everyone

Today I want to sing you guys an old Irish folk song called Arthur McBride.

This is one of the very first songs I ever learned to play.I kind of fell in love with the word play here, its a very well written tune.

It dates back to the mid 1800s.It is considered an anti enlistment song which would have been sung in protest of the Nepolonic war.

The songs purpose is to dissuade Irish men from being conscripted into the English army to fight in France.

We are having a bit of a heat wave here on the east of Scotland today.Just as I was about to swith the camera on to record this song my high E string snapped ,Im pretty sure its the heat that caused it to snap.

So I had to record this one with 5 strings as I dont have a spare set here, the strings I have been using have lasted pretty much exactly a year,I guess its time I should change them.

Anyways I hope you guys enjoy my version of this old folk song.

"Arthur McBride"
Paul Brady

Oh me and my cousin, one Arthur McBride
As we went a walkin' down by the seaside
Now mark what followed and what did betide
It being on Christmas morning

Out for recreation we went on a tramp
And we met Sergeant Knapper and Corporal Vamp
And a little wee drummer intending to camp
For the day being pleasant and charming

Good morning, good morning the sergeant did cry
And the same to you gentlemen, we did reply
Intending no harm we just meant to pass by
For it being on Christmas morning

But says he my fine fellows if you will enlist
It's ten guineas in gold I will slip in your fist
And a crown in the bargain for to kick up the dust
And to drink the King's health in the morning

For a soldier he leads a very fine life
He always is blessed with a charming young wife
And he pays all his debts without sorrow or strife
And always lives pleasant and charming

And a soldier he always is decent and clean
In the finest of clothing he's constantly seen
While other poor fellows go dirty and mean
And sup on thin gruel in the morning

Says Arthur, I wouldn't be proud of your clothes
You've only the lend of them as I suppose
And you dare not change them one night for you know
If you do you'll be flogged in the morning

And although we are single and free
We take great delight in our own company
And we have no desire strange places to see
Although your offer is charming

And we have no desire to take your advance
All hazards and danger we barter on chance
For you would have no scruples to send us to France
Where we would be shot without warning

And now says the sergeant, I'll have no such chat
And I neither will take it from spalpeen or brat
For if you insult us with one other word
Its off with your heads in the morning

And then Arthur and I we soon drew our hods
And we scarce gave them time for to draw their own blades
When a trusty shillelagh came over their heads
And bade them take that as fair warning

As for their old rusty rapiers that hung by their sides
We flung it as far as we could in the tide
Now take them out devils, cries Arthur McBride
And temper thier edge in the morning

As for the wee drummer, we flattened his pow
And made a football of his row-do-dow-dow
Threw it in the tide for to rock and to roll
And bade it a tedious returnin'

And we haven't no money to pay them off in cracks
And we paid no respect to the two bloody backs
For we lathered them there like a pair of wet sacks
And left them for dead in the morning

And so to conclude and to finish disputes
We obligingly asked if they wanted recruits
For we were the lads who would give them hard clouts
And bid them look sharp in the morning

Oh me and my cousin, one Arthur McBride
As we went a walkin' down by the seaside
Now mark what followed and what did betide
It being on Christmas morning