Oh, what's the matter with you,
my loves?
And where's your dashing Jimmy?
The soldier boys have picked him up
And sent him far, far from me.
Last payday he went into town
And them red -coated fellows
Enticed a man and made him drunk,
And he'd better gone to the gallows.
The very sight of his cacade,
It sets us all a -crying,
And me, I nearly fainted twice,
I thought that I was dy ing.
My father would have paid the smart,
And he ran for the golden guinea.
But the sergeant swore
he'd kiss the book,
So now they've got young Jimmy.
When Jimmy talks about the wars,
It's worse than death to hear him.
I must go out and hide my tears,
Because I cannot bear him.
A brigadier or grenadier,
He says they're sure to make him,
And I, jives and cracks his jokes,
And bids me not forsake him.
As I walked o 'er the stubble field,
below it runs the seam,
I thought of Jimmy
Ewing there, but it was all a dream.
He hewed the very coals we burn,
and when the fire I'm lighting,
To think the lumps wherein his hands
would set my heart a -beating
So break my heart, and then it's o 'er
Oh, break my heart, my dearie
And I lie in the cold green ground
For a single life I'm weary you