Hi Belgabor!

This song was sung by Paul Brady and recorded by him and Andy Irvine on a terrific LP called "Paul Brady & Andy Irvine." It was originally on the Mulligan label and, later, on Green Linnet, I believe. Paul used to live here in New York. Anytime he used to sing "Arthur McBride" at a session, people would come running up and downstairs and from all over to hear it. There was never any question that it was a great song and that he did it masterfully. It is an Irish anti-recruiting song, of course, and, I could be wrong about this, but I believe the actual source was a book of New England (possibly Maine or Vermont) folk songs. It just turned up there.

I looked at the DigiTrad database under "Arthur McBride" and found 3 versions. The second one, ARTHUR McBRIDE & THE SARGEANT, is very close to what you want. I have Paul's recording in storage so I can't give you the very words he uses. Perhaps someone will type them out for you if you really need them.

All the best, Dan