Tuning: E A D G B E

[Verse 1]

^GAt the age of nineteen I was ^D7diggin' the ^Gland, With me ^A7brogues on me feet and me ^Dspade in me hand, "Oh," ^Gsays I to meself, "What ^Bma pity to see, Such a ^Emfine Kerry lad diggin' ^Dspuds in Tralee."

[Chorus]

With me ^Gkerry-ay-ay, fa ^Emla de ral lay, ^DKerry ay-ay, fa ^Gla de ral lay.

[Verse 2]

^GSo I buttered me brogues and shook ^D7hands with me ^Gspade, And went ^A7off to the fair like a ^Ddashing young blade, A ^Gsergeant comes up and says, ^Bm"Will ye enlist?" "Sure, ^Emsergeant," says I, "slip the ^Dbob in me fist!"

[Chorus]

With me ^Gkerry-ay-ay, fa ^Emla de ral lay, ^DKerry ay-ay, fa ^Gla de ral lay.

[Verse 3]

^GThen up steps the captain, a ^D7man of great ^Gfame, And s^A7traightway he asks me my ^Dcountry and name. "I've ^Gtold ye before, and I ^Bmtell ye again, Me f^Emather and mother were ^Dtwo Kerry men."

[Chorus]

With me ^Gkerry-ay-ay, fa ^Emla de ral lay, ^DKerry ay-ay, fa ^Gla de ral lay.

[Verse 4]

^GThe first thing they gave me, ^D7it was a red ^Gcoat, With a ^A7lump of black leather to ^Dtie round me throat. The ^Gnext thing they gave me, says I, ^Bm"What is that?" "Sure ^Emman, a cockade for to ^Dstick in yer hat."

[Chorus]

With me ^Gkerry-ay-ay, fa ^Emla de ral lay, ^DKerry ay-ay, fa ^Gla de ral lay.

[Verse 5]

^GThe next thing they gave me ^D7they called it a ^Ggun, And ^A7under the trigger I settled me ^Dthumb, The ^Ggun it belched fire and ^Bmvomited smoke, And ^Emgave me poor shoulder the ^Ddevil's own stroke.

[Chorus]

With me ^Gkerry-ay-ay, fa ^Emla de ral lay, ^DKerry ay-ay, fa ^Gla de ral lay.

[Verse 6]

^GThe next thing they gave me they ^D7called it a ^Ghorse, With a ^A7saddle and bridle me ^Dtwo legs across. So I ^Ggave it the bit and I ^Bmgave it the steel, And, ^EmHoly Mother! she ^Dwent like an eel!

[Chorus]

With me ^Gkerry-ay-ay, fa ^Emla de ral lay, ^DKerry ay-ay, fa ^Gla de ral lay.

[Verse 7]

^GNow the first place they took us was ^D7down to the ^Gsea, Aboard ^A7a great ship bound for the ^DCrimee. With ^Gthree sticks in the middle all ^Bmhung with white sheets, She w^Emalked on the water ^Dwithout any feet.

[Chorus]

With me ^Gkerry-ay-ay, fa ^Emla de ral lay, ^DKerry ay-ay, fa ^Gla de ral lay.

[Verse 8]

^GWe reached the Balaclave all ^D7safe and ^Gsound, And ^A7hungry and weary we ^Dlay on the ground, Next ^Gmorning at daybreak a ^Bmbugle did call, And ^Emserved us a breakfast of ^Dpowder and ball.

[Chorus]

With me ^Gkerry-ay-ay, fa ^Emla de ral lay, ^DKerry ay-ay, fa ^Gla de ral lay.

[Verse 9]

^GWe licked them at ^D7Alma and then ^GInnerman, But the ^A7Russians they foiled us ^Dat the Redan, While ^Gscaling the ramparts me^Bmself lost an eye, And a g^Emreat Russian bullet ran away ^Dwith me thigh,

[Chorus]

With me ^Gkerry-ay-ay, fa ^Emla de ral lay, ^DKerry ay-ay, fa ^Gla de ral lay.

[Verse 10]

^GAll bleeding and dying I ^D7lay on the ^Gground, With ^A7arms, legs and feet all s^Dcattered around, Says ^GI to meself, "If me ^Bmfather were nigh, He'd ^Emhave buried me now just in ^Dcase I should die."

[Chorus]

With me ^Gkerry-ay-ay, fa ^Emla de ral lay, ^DKerry ay-ay, fa ^Gla de ral lay.

[Verse 11]

^GBut a surgeon comes by and he ^D7soon stops ^Gthe blood, And he g^A7ave me an iligant leg ^Dmade of wood, And they ^Gmade me a pension of ^Bmten pence a day, And ^Emcontented with shellocks I ^Dlive on half pay.

[Chorus]

With me ^Gkerry-ay-ay, fa ^Emla de ral lay, ^DKerry ay-ay, fa ^Gla de ral lay.

Misc Traditional - The kerry recruit