Johnny's Gone For A Soldier

Johnny's Gone For A Soldier

Oh I wish I were on yonder hill
It's there I'd sit and cry my fill
'Til every tear would turn a mill
My Johnny's gone for a soldier

Well, Johnny, my love, he went away
He would not heed what I did say
He won't be back for many's a day
My Johnny's gone for a soldier

Chorus:
Shule, shule, shule a gra
Oh shule, oh shule and he loves me
When he comes back, he will marry me
My Johnny, he has gone for a soldier

I'll sell my rack, I'll sell my reel
I'll sell my only spinning wheel
And buy my love a sword of steel
My Johnny's gone for a soldier

I'll dye my petticoat, I'll dye it red
Around the world I'll bake my bread
'Til I find my love alive or dead
My Johnny, he has gone for a soldier

(Chorus)

But now my love, he has gone to France
To try his fortune to advance
If he returns, it is but a chance
My Johnny, he has gone for a soldier

(Chorus)

I wish, I wish, I wish in vain
I wish I had my heart again
'Tis gladly I would not complain
My Johnny, he has gone for a soldier

(Chorus 2x)

My Johnny, he has gone for a soldier

 

Lyrics from a traditional ballad

Other Versions:	"Siúil, A Rúin" on Anúna's album Invocation "Siúl A Rún" on Mary Black's album Full Tide "Siúil A Rún" on the Celtic Woman soundtrack "Siúil A Rún" on Clannad's album Dúlamán "Siúil A Rún" on Órla Fallon's album The Water Is Wide "Siúil A Rún" on Lisa Kelly's album Lisa "Suil A Ruin" on the Lord Of The Dance soundtrack

 

Here's more on the lyrics and versions:

Version 1

recorded by

Peter, Paul & Mary -

1962

under the title GONE THE RAINBOW

 

Shule, shule, shule-a-roo

 Shule-a-rak-shak, shule-a-ba-ba-coo

When I saw my Sally Babby Beal Come

bibble in the boo shy Lorey

 

Shule, shule, shule-a-roo

Shule-a-rak-shak, shule-a-ba-ba-coo

When I saw my Sally Babby Beal

Come bibble in the boo shy Lorey

 

Here I sit on Buttermilk Hill

Who could blame me, cry my fill

Every tear would turn a mill

Johnny's gone for a soldier

 

Shule, shule, shule-a-roo

Shule-a-rak-shak, shule-a-ba-ba-coo

When I saw my Sally Babby Beal

Come bibble in the boo shy Lorey

 

I sold my flax, I sold my wheel

To buy my love a sword of steel

So it in battle he might wield

Johnny's gone for a soldier

 

Oh, my baby, oh, my love (Shule, shule, shule-a-roo)

Gone the rainbow, gone the dove

Your father was my only love (Shule, shule, shule-a-roo)

Johnny's gone for a soldier

 

Shule, shule, shule-a-roo

Shule-a-rak-shak, shule-a-ba-ba-coo

When I saw my Sally Babby Beal

Come bibble in the boo shy Lorey

 

Shule, shule, shule-a-roo

Shule-a-rak-shak, shule-a-ba-ba-coo

When I saw my Sally Babby Beal

Come bibble in the boo shy Lorey

 

 

*********

Version 2

as recorded by Kristina Austin Scarcelli

 

 

Here I sit on Buttermilk Hill

Who can blame me, cryin' my fill

And ev'ry tear would turn a mill

Johnny has gone for a soldier

 

Me, oh my, I loved him so

Broke my heart to see him go

And only time will heal my woe

Johnny has gone for a soldier

 

Shule, shule, shule agra

Time can only heal my woe

Since the lad of my heart from me did go

Johnny has gone for a soldier

 

I'll sell my flax and my spinning wheel

To buy my love a sword of steel

So it in battle he might wield

Johnny has gone for a soldier

 

With fife and drum he marched away

He would not heed what I did say

He'll not come back for many a day

Johnny has gone for a soldier

 

Shule, shule, shule agra

Time can only heal my woe

Since the lad of my heart from me did go

Johnny has gone for a soldier

 

Oh my baby, oh my love

Gone the rainbow, gone the dove

Your father was my one, true love

Johnny has gone for a soldier

 

Shule, shule, shule agra

Time can only heal my woe

Since the lad of my heart from me did go

Johnny has gone for a soldier

 

Shule, shule, shule agra

Time can only heal my woe

Since the lad of my heart from me did go

Johnny has gone for a soldier

 

Johnny has gone for a soldier

Johnny has gone for a soldier

 

*********

Version 3

 

Here I sit on Buttermilk Hill

Who can blame me, cryin' my fill

And ev'ry tear would turn a mill,

Johnny has gone for a soldier.

 

Me, oh my, I loved him so,

Broke my heart to see him go,

And only time will heal my woe,

Johnny has gone for a soldier.

 

I'll sell my rod, I'll sell my reel,

Likewise I'll sell my spinning wheel,

And buy my love a sword of steel,

Johnny has gone for a soldier.

 

I'll dye my dress, I'll dye it red,

And through the streets I'll beg for bread,

For the lad that I love from me has fled,

Johnny has gone for a soldier.

 

*********

Version 4

 

Here I sit on Buttermilk Hill

Who could blame me cry my fill,

Every tear would turn a mill,

Johnny's gone for a soldier.

Oh my baby, oh my love,

Gone the rainbow, gone the dove,

Your father was my only love,

Johnny's gone for a soldier.

 

Me, oh my, I loved him so,

It broke my heart to see him go,

And only time will heal my woe,

Johnny's gone for a soldier.

Oh my baby, oh my love,

Gone the rainbow, gone the dove,

Your father was my only love,

Johnny's gone for a soldier.

 

 

I sold my flax, I sold my my wheel,

To buy my love a sword of steel,

So it in battle, he may wield,

Johnny's gone for a soldier.

Oh my baby, oh my love,

Gone the rainbow, gone the dove,

Your father was my only love,

Johnny's gone for a soldier.