"What's the matter with you, me lass, and where's your dashing Jimmy?"
"Them soldier boys have picked him up and taken him far from me
Last pay-day he went into town and them red-coated fellows
Enticed him in and made him drunk, and he'd better gone to the gallows
The very sight of his cockade, it sets us all a-crying
And me, I nearly fainted twice, I thought that I was dying
Me father said he'd pay the smart and he'd run for the Golden Guinea
The sergeant swore he'd kissed 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 me tears, because I cannot bear him
A brigadier or a grenadier he says they're sure to make him
So now he jibes and cracks his jokes and bids me not forsake him
As I walked o'er yon stubbled fields below where runs the seam
I think on Jimmy hewing there, but it was all a dream
He hewed the very coils we burned, so when this fire I'm leeting
To think the lumps was in his hands, it sets me heart a-beating
So break me heart and then it's o'er, oh, break me heart, me dearie
As I lie in this cold, cold bed, of a single life I'm weary, weary"