Well, this has been an education for me. When I started looking through this thread I thought the song in question was "Cruel War" which Peter, Paul and Mary sang on what I think was their first album.

CRUEL WAR

"The cruel war is raging, Johnny has to fight; I want to be with him from morning 'till night, I want to be with him, it grieves my heart so... Won't you let me go with you?" "No, my love, no."

"Tomorrow is Sunday, Monday is the day That your captain will call you and you must obey. Your captain will call you, it grieves my heart so... Won't you let me go with you?" "No, my love, no."

"I'll tie back my hair, men's clothing I'll put on. I'll pass as your comrade as we march along... I'll pass as your comrade, no one will ever know, Won't you let me go with you?" "No, my love, no."

"Oh, Johnny, oh, Johnny, I feel you are unkind, I love you better than all of mankind... I love you far better than words can e'er express. Won't you let me go with you?" "Yes, my love, yes."

Does anyone know anything about this song. Does it have any tradition? I've read that there were women who served in the American Civil War dressed as and pretending to be men. My old 33 1/3 record gives the name of the song and under it is (Yarrow, Stookey). I don't know if that is an indication they wrote this version, or just that it's their arrangement. It's a lovely song in a minor key. Does it have any relationship to the song you've been talking about on this thread?