It being on a sultry summer day and I weary working at the hay,
I lay to watch a regiment march by to England's war.
I don't know what then came about, but I must have slept without a doubt
For I dreamt I took the shilling in the town of Castlebar.
Oh what will my dear parents say when they hear the latest news today,
How another Irish boy has strayed gone fighting England's war?
My father it will surely kill, my mother too will cry her fill
When they hear their son against their will is leaving Castlebar.
'Oh, then Sergeant Shea a mhic mo chrom, won't you swop back again with me
For my old coat and britches they were warmer by far.
Your khaki suit is nice I know, but here it is and let me go
For I'd rather dress in an Irish tweed at home in Castlebar.'
The sergeant he said back to me 'You might as well contented be
You know you took the shilling free in Mary Haughey's bar
And your old friends you leave behind, they might as well make up their mind
That you'll never more see Erin's shore, you're leaving Castlebar.'
It was then I wept with grief and pain, but all my protest was in vain,
They marched me off to Navan with some General in a car
And when we came to Dublin town, straight to the transport we went down -
We sailed away for India, my sorrow Castlebar.
The heat was dreadful overhead, we fought till nearly all were dead
From Suttlee to the Khyber till we came to Kandahar.
Those Indians were a hardy lot, they whacked it to us hard and hot,
I lost a leg to cannon-shot and I wept for Castlebar.
As on the bloody ground I lay, in deep despair I couldn't pray
I cursed the day I went away and my joy in life did mar,
When someone near me let a shout, I woke right up and gazed about;
Thank God it was a nightmare I was safe in Castlebar.
I gazed about me with delight, I found my two fine legs alright,
I kissed the sod of Ireland and I thanked my lucky star.
I swore no soldiering I'd try unless for Ireland's cause I'd die,
King George can suck his shilling I'm content in Castlebar.
I lay to watch a regiment march by to England's war.
I don't know what then came about, but I must have slept without a doubt
For I dreamt I took the shilling in the town of Castlebar.
Oh what will my dear parents say when they hear the latest news today,
How another Irish boy has strayed gone fighting England's war?
My father it will surely kill, my mother too will cry her fill
When they hear their son against their will is leaving Castlebar.
'Oh, then Sergeant Shea a mhic mo chrom, won't you swop back again with me
For my old coat and britches they were warmer by far.
Your khaki suit is nice I know, but here it is and let me go
For I'd rather dress in an Irish tweed at home in Castlebar.'
The sergeant he said back to me 'You might as well contented be
You know you took the shilling free in Mary Haughey's bar
And your old friends you leave behind, they might as well make up their mind
That you'll never more see Erin's shore, you're leaving Castlebar.'
It was then I wept with grief and pain, but all my protest was in vain,
They marched me off to Navan with some General in a car
And when we came to Dublin town, straight to the transport we went down -
We sailed away for India, my sorrow Castlebar.
The heat was dreadful overhead, we fought till nearly all were dead
From Suttlee to the Khyber till we came to Kandahar.
Those Indians were a hardy lot, they whacked it to us hard and hot,
I lost a leg to cannon-shot and I wept for Castlebar.
As on the bloody ground I lay, in deep despair I couldn't pray
I cursed the day I went away and my joy in life did mar,
When someone near me let a shout, I woke right up and gazed about;
Thank God it was a nightmare I was safe in Castlebar.
I gazed about me with delight, I found my two fine legs alright,
I kissed the sod of Ireland and I thanked my lucky star.
I swore no soldiering I'd try unless for Ireland's cause I'd die,
King George can suck his shilling I'm content in Castlebar.
Contributed by Bernart - 2013/7/18 - 09:06
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Castlebar (Caisleán an Bharraigh, ossia “Castello di Barry”) nella contea di Mayo è un luogo importante nella storia della resistenza degli irlandesi contro i dominatori britannici.
Quando nel 1775 scoppiò la guerra per l’indipendenza americana i francesi, storici nemici degli inglesi, si schierarono con gli indipendentisti. La Corona britannica dovette spedire migliaia di soldati oltre oceano ma il pericolo di un aggressione da parte della Francia (e della Spagna) restava anche in Europa. Sicchè, facendo leva sul diffuso sentimento antifrancese, gli inglesi riuscirono ad arruolare molti irlandesi in una milizia volontaria, gli “Irish Volunteers”…
“Re Giorgio i suoi soldi può ficcarseli in quel posto, io non vado a combattere le guerre degli inlgesi e me ne resto come un puciu nella mia Castlebar…”
Il giovane irlandese protagonista di questa canzone ha il peggior incubo della sua vita, per fortuna solo in sogno, quello di finire arruolato sotto il comando inglese, spedito a combattere in qualche sperduto angolo dell’Impero…
“Castlebar Races”.
La contraddizione ebbe termine quando nel 1798 la ribellione antibritannica organizzata dagli United Irishmen di Wolfe Tone (anglicani e protestanti) e dai Defenders (cattolici) fu coadiuvata da un discreto contingente di soldati francesi che, sbarcati a Kilcummin nella contea di Mayo, insieme ai ribelli inflissero una dura sconfitta agli inglesi proprio nella cittadina di Castlebar.
Rivolta ed invasione non ebbero tuttavia successo e Wolfe Tone, catturato e condannato a morte, si uccise in carcere.