According to Roy Palmer in his book The Rambling Soldier, this is the original version, written in the 1870s. Odd that the Irish parody is in the DT but none of the English versions.

THE SCARLET AND THE BLUE
(John J Blockley)

Once I was a merry ploughboy going to plough the fields all day,
Till something came across my mind: I'd like to run away,
For I was tired of country life and the places I had seen,
So I came to be a soldier for Her Majesty the Queen.

Chorus: Hurrah for the Scarlet and the Blue and the helmets a-glittering in the sun
And the bay'nets flash like lightning to the beating of the old bass drum.
Hurrah for dear old England and her flag that's waving 'gainst the sky,
When the Captain of the Reg'ment says, We'll conquer or we'll die.

So I threw aside my old white slop and I threw aside my hoe,
I threw aside my old white slop no more to reap or mow.
No more I'll work in the harvest fields or go to reap the corn,
For I've been and took the shilling, boys, and I'm off tomorrow morn.

Ch.

I'm going to leave my mother, I am going far from her,
I know that she will miss me, for I'm her darling boy.
And if ever I return again I'll let them all see me,
With a star and medals on my breast a soldier brave I'll be.


K.A.