Johnny Is Gone For A Soldier

MIDI (2:39) [18kb]

Words by Septimus Winner
Music: traditional

I trace these gardens o'er and o'er
Meditate on each sweet flow'r
Thinking of each happy hour,
Oh, Johnny is gone for a soldier

Chorus
Shool-a Shool-a Shule agrah,
Time can only heal my woe,
Since the lad of my heart from me did go,
Oh, Johnny is gone for a soldier

Some say my love is gone to France
There his fortune to advance
And if I find him it's but a chance
Oh, Johnny is gone for a soldier

Chorus

I'll sell my frock, I'll sell my wheel,
I'll buy my love a sword of steel,
So in the battle he may reel,
Oh, Johnny is gone for a soldier

Chorus

I wish I was on yonder hill
It's there I'd sit and cry my fill
So ev'ry tear might turn a mill
Oh, Johnny is gone for a soldier

Chorus

I'll dye my dress all over red
And o'er the world I'll beg my bread
So all my friends may think me dead,
Oh, Johnny is gone for a soldier

Chorus

Other versions

MIDI (1:09) [5kb]
MIDI (1:24) [8kb]
MIDI (2:22) [11kb]
MIDI (1:52) [9kb]

This is probably an American adapatation of the Irish song Shule Arron dating back to the 17th Century. Johnny's Gone For a Soldier was popular during the Colonial period.