In the decade since I first posted about this - I am Anne Croucher - I have discovered that my grandfather did not sing the last part of the song as written, and my mother 'Dolly Grey Eyes' did not sing it at all, but I have put together something like his version from the vague recollections of his offspring. In his version the man comes back safe from the war. I still can't sing it without a catch in my voice.


Hear the rolling of the drums Dolly Grey
Back from war the reg'ment comes Dolly Grey
On your face a look of joy
To see your soldier boy
Run and kiss him, don't be coy now Dolly Grey.
The one you love so true Dolly Grey
is coming home to you Dolly Grey
you will have a future bright
Because he chose to go and fight
and to defend the right when he did say


Recently one of my uncles has discovered that his father was not legally married to his mother, and had left a wife and two sons in London. He has contacted the other family and found that a granddaughter lives only a few miles away from me. Small world.