The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #17305 Message #887780
Posted By: Malcolm Douglas
11-Feb-03 - 12:43 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: The Deserter from Kent
Subject: RE: Lyr & Tune add: The Deserter From Kent
Roud 2510
Lines 3 and 4 were missing from Mr Kemp's song; the editors have added two from "the related Army song: The Rambling Royal" (source unspecified). They have also slightly re-written the final verse.
The tune is a variant of the familiar Villikins.
The DT file DESERTER is not a distinct variant of the song, but a misheard and unattributed transcription from a record, or from somebody's singing, of the "Penguin" Deserter from Kent.