Arthur McBride and the Sergeant

Keith Harkin and Ard-Ri at Sandinos pub. Sorry about the picture quality, i recorded it for the music, and it was dark

Lyrics (song by Paul Brady)

(...)we went on a tramp
And we met Sergeant Napper 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 but meant to pass by
For it being on Christmas morning.(..)

[For a soldier he leads a very fine life
And 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. "

"But ", says Arthur, "I wouldn't be proud of your clothes
For 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 that we are single and free
we take great delight in our own company
And we have no desire strange faces to see
Although that your offers are charming
And we have no desire to take your advance
All hazards and dangers we barter on chance
For you would have no scruples for to send us to France
Where we would get shot without warning "

"Oh now! ", says the sergeant "I'll have no such chat
And I neither will take it from spalpeen or brat
For if you insult me with one other word
I'll cut off 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

And their old rusty rapiers that hung by their side
We flung them as far as we could in the tide
"Now take them out, Divils! ", cried Arthur McBride
"And temper their edge in the morning ".
And the little wee drummer we flattened his pow
And we made a football of his rowdeydowdow
Threw it in the tide for to rock and to row
And bade it a tedious returning

And we having no money, paid them off in cracks
And we paid no respect to their 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
For it being on Christmas morning.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• acoustic
• ard-ri
• feile
• fest
• harkin
• keith

[Sheliah19]

The charm of Keith in this olde Irish pub singing such a traditional Irish song is just overwhelming to me! Besides the beauty of that incredible voice is the character behind it. He is just so good!

[Rand0mhuman]

I use the lyrics for the most part but get lost at 2:10.

[Rand0mhuman]

He sure can hit some high notes!

[Rand0mhuman]

Ah, every camera flash makes me happy in the video cause for a second I can SEE him!

[feilefest]

thanks so much - what an incredible voice - he just puts his heart and soul into each song

hope to enjoy his music live when i visit derry next spring!

thanks again

[bubbleslady]

Thank you again. His voice is so great. I just wish that the people who were there, did not talk so much. I thank you for the words to the song. You are very kind to share all this with us.

[Sheliah19]

Thank you so much!

[Rand0mhuman]

YAY! THANK YOU!