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LOCKE HOSPITAL As I was a-walking down by the Locke Hospital Cold was the morning and dark was the day I spied a young squaddie wrapped up in old linen Wrapped up in old linen as cold as the day Ch.: So play the drums slowly and play the fifes lowly Sound a dead march as you carry him along And over his coffin throw a bunch of white laurels For he's a young soldier cut down in his prime. Oh mother, dear mother, come sit ya down by me Sit ya down by me and pity my sad plight For my body is injured and sadly disordered All by a young girl my own heart's delight Get six of me comrades to carry my coffin Get six of me comrades to carry me on high And let every one hold a bunch of white roses So no-one will notice as we pass them by And over his headstone these words they were written "All ye young fellows take warning from me. Beware of the flash girls that roam through the city For the girls of the city were the ruin of me." --------------------------------------------------------- recorded by Christy Moore on "Prosperous" (1972) Christy writes: "There have been many British garrisons around the world through the years and each one has had its own Locke Hospital for soldiers who caught the dreaded disease. I believe this is a Dublin song, but if not its musical origins are certainly Irish." One of countless songs of the Unfortunate Rake family. While each telling a completely different story, they all share the description of the funeral (here chorus and verse 3). This version is probably very close to the original version. American versions include "The Streets Of Laredo" and "St. James Infirmary", British versions are "The Unfortunate Rake" and "When I Was On Horseback" and many more. There is a Folkways record ("The Unfortunate Rake", FS 3805) dedicated exclusively to this family. See alsoÿSTJAME ÿLAREDST and ÿLAREDST2 DT #350 Laws B1 @Irish @death @soldier @illness @sex filename[ LAREDST3 TUNE FILE: LAREDST3 CLICK TO PLAY MJ |
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