“The Recruited Collier”
Description
Singer tells of her lover, a collier now in the army. She is terrified; he's looking forward to the adventure. She points out the coals her family burns, which his hands hewed. He bids her farewell, asking her not to forsake him; she says her life is over
Notes
In the versions of this song that I've heard, the collier took the shilling after a sergeant got him drunk (standard English recruiting method). Despite what the girl said, he feels perhaps less enthusuastic than determined to make the best of it.
Though the traditional texts seem most often to be known as "The Recruited Collier," two of the three texts cited in _Grangers's Index to Poetry_ are filed under "Jimmy's Enlisted." There is no indication of authorship. - RBW
Recordings
- Anne Briggs, "The Recruited Collier" (on IronMuse1, Briggs3)
References
- DT, RECRUCOL*
- Roud #3503
- BI, DTrecruc