Subject: Lyr Add: I'M ASKING YOU SERGEANT WHERE'S MINE From: Baz Date: 12 Apr 98 - 04:48 PM I think someone asked for this recently. This is from Billy Connolly on a Dubliners album. I'm Asking You Seargant Where's Mine? I'm lying in bed I'm in room 26 Thinking on things that I've done Like drinking with squaddies and bulling ma boots And countin' the medals I've won These hospital wards there all drab lookin' joints But the ceilings as much as I see It could do with a wee touch of paper or paint But then again mebbe that's me Chorus Oh seargant is this the adventure you meant When I put ma name down on the line All that talk of computers and sunshine and skis Oh I'm askin' you seargant where's mine I've a brother in Glasgow with long curly hair When I joined up he said I was daft He said shootin' strangers just is nae his game That brother of mine is nae soft But I can put up with most things I've done in my time I can even put up with the pain But what do you do with a gun in yer hand When you're faced with a hundred odd wains Chorus 3 times. Regards Baz |
Subject: Lyr Add: I'M ASKING YOU SERGEANT WHERE'S MINE From: BAZ Date: 20 Apr 98 - 05:40 PM I thought I'd posted this a week ago but it doesn't seem to be here so here goes again. I'm Asking You Seargant Where's Mine? I'm lying in bed I'm in room 26 Thinking on things that I've done Like drinking with squaddies and bulling ma boots And countin' the medals I've won These hospital wards there all drab lookin' joints But the ceilings as much as I see It could do with a wee touch of paper or paint But then again mebbe that's me Chorus Oh seargant is this the adventure you meant When I put ma name down on the line All that talk of computers and sunshine and skis Oh I'm askin' you seargant where's mine I've a brother in Glasgow with long curly hair When I joined up he said I was daft He said shootin' strangers just is nae his game That brother of mine is nae soft But I can put up with most things I've done in my time I can even put up with the pain But what do you do with a gun in yer hand When your faced with a hundred odd wains Chorus 3 times. Regards Baz |
Subject: i need a lyric caled I´m asking you seargent From: ME Date: 21 Jul 98 - 05:47 PM lyric requiest I´m asking you seargent where´s mine!!! this song is on the Dubliners thirty anniversery cd. regards from Iceland Skarpi |
Subject: Lyr Add: I'M ASKING YOU SERGEANT WHERE'S MINE From: Mick Lowe Date: 21 Jul 98 - 06:19 PM Iceland Skarpi, The song you are after is actually by Billy Connolly and can be found on one of his earlier albums (can't remember which one, but it also has the Wellie Song on it). If I can remember the words the go as follows: I'm lying in bed, I'm in room 26 Just thinking of things that I've done Like drinking with squaddies and bullying my boots And counting the medals I've won These hospital wards are drab looking joints Though the ceiling's as musch as I see They could do with a wee touch o' paper or paint Or then again maybe it's me Chorus: Oh sergeant is this the adventure you meant When I put my name down on the line All your talk of computers and sunshine and skiis I'm asking you sergeant where's mine I've a brother in Partick with long curly hair When I joined up he said I was daft He said shooting at strangers just wasna his game That brother of mine isna soft But I can put up with most things I've done in my time I can even put up with the pain But what do you do with a gun in your hand When you're facing a hundred odd wains Chorus again followed by some dee dahs and into the chorus tacked on to the end of which is; I'm asking you sergeant where's mine I am asking you sergeant where's mine It's a while since I played it, great tune. Regards Mick |
Subject: RE: i need a lyric caled I´m asking you seargent From: Martin Ryan Date: 21 Jul 98 - 06:55 PM A version was posted some time ago - I've refreshed the thread.
Regards |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: murray@mpce.mq.edu.au Date: 22 Jul 98 - 01:57 AM What is a "wain"? Murray |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: AndreasW Date: 22 Jul 98 - 03:41 AM According to my English-English dictionary, a "wain" is a wagon, especially a "chariot". My English-German dictionary says a "wain" is a "fighting vehicle" (Kampf-Fahrzeug) Andreas |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: AndyG Date: 22 Jul 98 - 05:05 AM Ah, but a Scotch-English dictionary might explain "wain" = (wee-one?) = child. AndyG Disclaimer: |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: AndreasW Date: 22 Jul 98 - 08:17 AM Might be "child", AndyG, but as it is a soldier's song and the uselessness of a gun against more than 100 wains is mentioned I think the "fighting vehicle" is more likely. AndreasW |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: AndyG Date: 22 Jul 98 - 10:44 AM Ah.... but I believe it's a song about Ulster where the soldiers of the British Army found themselves facing rioting crowds which included children as well as armed citizens, whilst only able to respond with lethal force. A bit of a dilemma for the "front line" soldier is that.
AndyG |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: James Fulford Date: 22 Jul 98 - 10:36 PM "Wain" should be spelled "Wean" ,Scots for child. So a rifle is useless when facing a crowd of rioters who have brought their children with them, or a crowd of rioting children. Peacekeeping duty is especially frustrating because it's not what soldiers are for, but if they send civilians they'll just get killed. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: AndreasW Date: 23 Jul 98 - 08:52 AM I still prefer the fighging vehicles as the soldier complains that his rifle is useless. Ok, that could be because of the children in the crowd as he would not shoot if they were in danger. BUT he is wounded! And I don't think it were the children who wounded him. There is no mentioning of riots or crowds or Ulster, so I think it is a general anti-war song. Andreas |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: AndyG Date: 24 Jul 98 - 05:25 AM Ok, I'll bite, I'm afraid you've hit two of my interests here Folk Song and Military History. I believe you're stretching the definition "fighting vehicle" (Kampf-Fahrzeug) to encompass "tank" as "armour" (panzer) isn't there. PanzerKampfWagen I thought meant Armoured Fighting Vehicle (which includes all tanks). I'll accept chariot as a definition but then I don't see a major problem for our rifle armed soldier.
The reference to
I think I'm getting off topic about now so if you want to discuss this further I'll happily respond to Email: operag@anglia.ac.uk
AndyG |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: Mick Lowe Date: 24 Jul 98 - 05:27 AM Andreas, If you listen to Billy Connolly explaining the reasons for him writing the song, I think you'll change your opinion as it definately is about Ulster and he definately means children. Having once inadvertantly got into a pub conversion with a squaddie just back from a tour of duty (this was back in the 70s), I was told that it was tactic of the IRA to hide behind rows of stone/rock throwing children, against which the soldiers could do nothing. Cheers Mick |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: AndreasW Date: 24 Jul 98 - 07:36 AM Okay, I'll give in, wain should be wean meaning children. I only had the lyrics to make speculations about, - I did never hear Billy Connolly talking, so I did not hear him talking about this song; - I don't know anything about the recruiting campaigns of the British armies; - I did not know when the song was written; - I do know about the IRA to hide behind children but thought my own explanation with the fighting vehicles more likely. As I was told by AndyG and Mick Lowe there are many hints (especially the author of the song saying so) that this song is about a soldier fighting the IRA which I did not see (as my knowlede is limited (see above)), I'll accept it. Andreas |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: Mick Lowe Date: 24 Jul 98 - 08:25 PM Andreas, The great thing about folk music is the diverse interpretation of songs that happens over the years, which acts as the catalyst for new songs. Please don't think I was dismissing your theories off hand, the trouble is when us lesser mortals have a snippet of information we are only too keen to expound it to the rest of the world. At the end of the day every is entitled to their own opinion/interpretation. At the end of the day that's what "art" is all about. I don't know whether you've heard the tune or not but you can find the original on an album entitled "Cop yer wack for this" by Billy Connolly (well known Scottish comedian), which makes it a all the more poignant anti war song for me than the good old Green Fields of France/No man's land. If you want, drop me a line and I'll slap it on a tape for you. Cheers Mick |
Subject: Lyr Add: I'M ASKING YOU SERGEANT WHERE'S MINE ^^ From: Jon Freeman Date: 23 Sep 00 - 08:12 PM I'M ASKING YOU SERGEANT WHERE'S MINE (Traditional)
I'm lying in bed I'm in room twenty-six
Chorus:
I have a brother in Glasgow wi' long curly hair Chorus (3x).^^
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: Brakn Date: 23 Sep 00 - 09:08 PM Jon,there have been a few previous threads on this one. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: Jon Freeman Date: 23 Sep 00 - 09:12 PM Brakn and others, sorry if it is a duplicate. I was working through a list for Fedle and I could not get the lyrics to show up on whatever I tried in the search criteria in either of the forum or the DT searches. I managed to locate all except this one and a poem that I added to the Dubliners thread in either the forum or the DT - I do check before posting. Jon |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: Jon Freeman Date: 23 Sep 00 - 09:20 PM Just checked again, a lyric add has been posted - I am not sure what I did wrong - sorry again. Jon |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: GUEST,Joerg Date: 23 Sep 00 - 09:31 PM ????????? This song is nice - I know it from one of the more 'official' CD's of the Dubliners, 'A-greying', which is full of really good songs. 'I'm asking you...' seems a little pale among all those jewels, but when I'm listening to average music and suddenly this song shows up I'm inclined to give pardon for pardon... Some people sometimes tell me that my english is excellent. - Well, if that's an expression for at least knowing what good english is without being able to perform it they are right. And indeed I can even understand about 70 to 80 percent of what is told here in the mudcat. DOWN ON YOUR KNEES, YOU UNEDUCATED 'PLEBS'. But even an extremely knowledged genius like me (at least one of them all: me) can not understand the above lyrics. Can anybody who really knows english explain to me what is said there? This needn't include an explanation of how to 'mend an adventure'; I suppose that that's an error and 'meant' is meant (really? or is there something I just don't know?), but the rest isn't that easy to figure out. Have mercy with us poor foreigners Joerg
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: little john cameron Date: 23 Sep 00 - 09:50 PM Ah think it should be mend---meant joint---joined ni' soft---not soft[saft] wanes[weans]---children bullin---shining sealing---ceiling There should be more of this. ljc |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: jacko@nz Date: 24 Sep 00 - 12:45 AM here's some more. joints--joints! skies--skis he said shootin' strangers just wisnae his game |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: Bluebeard Date: 24 Sep 00 - 12:57 AM A great song but NOT Traditional. It was written by Billy Connelly, a rather talented Scotsman, comedian and actor! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: Liz the Squeak Date: 24 Sep 00 - 05:01 AM Still bloody good for all that and I've not heard it for years since some cretin lost that particular tape for me! I've not been able to find it since, and didn't know anyone else had even heard of it!! LTS |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: Fedele Date: 24 Sep 00 - 06:26 AM Thanks and sorry for requesting a previously posted song. Some problems for me when I search. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 24 Sep 00 - 12:04 PM "He says shouldn't strangers just dastny his gain"?????? Wha???? Dave Oesterreich |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: little john cameron Date: 24 Sep 00 - 12:55 PM He says shouldn't strangers just isnae his game" ah missed that bit' ljc
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: dick greenhaus Date: 24 Sep 00 - 01:12 PM I suspect it's really: "He says shootin' strangers just isnae his game" |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: Jon Freeman Date: 24 Sep 00 - 03:01 PM I know I can but bad but in this instance,I just copied and pasted the lyrics in from this site and just added line breaks at the end of the lines without reading the actual text. In fairness, it seems quite a good site for Dubliners lyrics even though the Dutch transcriber seems to have difficulties with the occasional song. I like this:
There's ne'er a night time gang tiremble Jon
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: jacko@nz Date: 24 Sep 00 - 04:33 PM That's it Dick; He says that shooting strangers is not what he likes to do |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: GUEST,Joerg Date: 24 Sep 00 - 11:05 PM Thanks, it's getting a little lighter now. Joerg |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: Tony in Sweden Date: 25 Sep 00 - 02:31 AM Hi Bluebeard, William "Connelly" · is a rather talanted Scotsman, but it was Billy "Connolly" who wrote this one. Awra Best T.C. |
Subject: Sergeant Where's Mine by Glensarrry Bhoy From: GUEST,Scott scotth@pe.net Date: 07 Feb 02 - 12:56 PM Hi, I am looking for the lyrics to the song "Sergeant Where's Mine" by the wonderful band Glengarry Bhouys. Thanks Scott |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sergeant Where's Mine by Glensarrry From: Murray MacLeod Date: 07 Feb 02 - 01:05 PM Try Here And note, it was written bt Billy Connolly Murray |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sergeant Where's Mine by Glensarrry From: jup Date: 07 Feb 02 - 02:21 PM Can anyone give me the cords for this one? What does SAFT mean? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sergeant Where's Mine by Glensarrry From: little john cameron Date: 07 Feb 02 - 03:08 PM Soft.ljc |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sergeant Where's Mine by Glensarrry From: Snuffy Date: 07 Feb 02 - 07:12 PM Saft = feeble-minded |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sergeant Where's Mine by Glensarrry From: little john cameron Date: 07 Feb 02 - 07:14 PM Aye saft in the heid. ljc |
Subject: Lyr Add: I'M ASKING YOU SERGEANT, WHERE'S MINE? From: GUEST,Herga George Date: 08 Feb 02 - 10:07 AM I'M ASKING YOU, SERGEANT, WHERE'S MINE? (Billy Connolly) I'm lying in bed. I'm in room 26, And I'm thinking of things that I've done, Like drinking with squaddies and bulling my boots, And counting the medals I've won. These hospital walls are all drab-looking joints, But the ceiling's as much as I've seen. It could do with a wee touch of paper and paint, But then again maybe that's mean. Oh, sergeant, is this the adventure you meant When I put my name down on the line? Oh, your talk of computers and sunshine and skis, Well, I'm asking you, sergeant, “Where's mine?” I've a brother in Partick wi long curly hair. When I joined up he said I was daft. He said shooting strangers just was nae his game. That brother of mine is nae saft. But I can put up with most things I've done in my time. I can even put up with the pains. But what do you do wi a gun in your hand When you're facing a hundred odd wains? Oh, sergeant is this the adventure you meant, When I put my name down on the line? Oh, your talk of computers and sunshine and skis, I'm asking you, sergeant, “Where's mine?” I'm asking you, sergeant, “Where's mine?” |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sergeant Where's Mine by Glensarrry From: Susanne (skw) Date: 08 Feb 02 - 12:20 PM HG - it's always sensible to check the Digitrad and Forum Search (above the thread list) first. Billy's song was posted by Jon Freeman and harvested (viz. the ^^ at the end of the post) in this thread. If you stay with us and like to contribute more of your knowledge (please do!) it might be best to read the 'Mudcat FAQ' at the top of the thread list first. It can save a lot of work! Anyway, I'm glad this song is so popular. The only thing - in both Jon's and your versions the last word in the last verse is not spelled quite right. It's 'weans' - Scottish for children. (Correct, Little John Cameron?) |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sergeant Where's Mine by Glensarrry From: Murray MacLeod Date: 08 Feb 02 - 05:29 PM Suzanne, in LJC's absence I will take the liberty of confirming that "weans" is indeed the accepted correct spelling, and that it is indeed the (lowland) Scottish vernacular for "children". For the etymologically minded, "weans" is in fact a contraction of "wee ones", and is pronounced "wains", rather than "weens". Murray
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: GUEST,charger 69 Date: 01 Oct 05 - 05:10 AM thaks guys my dad used to sing this to me and he died 15 years ago at 38 been lookin for lyrics ever since thanks mason |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: skarpi Date: 01 Oct 05 - 05:39 AM Halló all , halló Tony, glad you are alive :>)) this a great song witch I have been singing here at home . some people though don´t get this song? it´s a shame. All best Skarpi Iceland. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Asking You Sergent where's mine From: patriot1314 Date: 30 Sep 06 - 04:52 PM I'm lying in bed I'm in room Twenty-six And I'm thinking on things that I've done Like drinkin' with squaddies and bullin' my boots And countin' the medals I've won These hospital wards they're all drab lookin' joints But the ceiling's as much as I see It could do with a wee touch of paper And paint but then again maybe that's me Chorus: Oh sergeant is this the adventure you meant When I put my name down on the line All that talk of computers and sunshine and skis All I'm asking you sergeant where's mine I've a brother in Glasgow with long curly hair When I joined up he said I was daft He's says shooting strangers just is'na his game That brother of my is'na saft But I can put up with most things I've done in my time I can even put up with the pain But what do you do with a gun in your hand When you're faced with a hundred odd weans |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Asking You Sergent where's mine From: GUEST,RSM B'Stard Date: 30 Sep 06 - 10:24 PM What's the time Sar'nt Major ? 1 23 1 |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: guitar Date: 10 Apr 07 - 01:55 PM Sergeant where's mine was written by Billy Connolly, taken from his album cop yer whack for this and was recored in Glasgow |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: Jim Lad Date: 10 Apr 07 - 02:24 PM I hadn't realized that so many don't get it. I'll come by this afternoon and put the song in context in a manner that would make Billy proud. Got to go. Jim |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine From: Jim Lad Date: 11 Apr 07 - 04:47 AM In 1969 the civil rights movement in Northern Ireland (One Man, One Vote) exploded into a violent frenzy. The British army was sent in as a peace keeping force and soon became part of the problem. In an effort to boost the number of new recruits, the British Government mounted an advertising campaign which featured young men, learning various trades, computer skills and skiing. Recruiting stations (Army Career Offices) were opened all over Glasgow and surrounding areas and the unemployed youth of these areas were specifically targeted as likely candidates. Irish immigration was extremely high in these towns and many of the young men being recruited were, like myself, of Irish descent with very little, if any, Scottish blood coursing through their veins. This is the hidden dilemma which the angry young man has to face. Once recruited, he would be immediately sent off to Northern Ireland whereupon he would discover that he had unwittingly become an enemy to his own people. Gangs of youths were hurling rocks and petrol bombs at the troops and on many occasions, the troops fired back. Some recruits were reluctant to fight and others.... not quite so reluctant. Given the time line of this song, there is a simple line which is so easily overlooked and yet it says so much. "I've a brother in Glasgow wi' lang curly hair, When I joined up he said I was daft." Given that this was his older brother (No-one takes advice from a younger sibbling) with long curly hair, he would have come through the sixties, well versed in the anti establishment, anti war movement and not an easy target for even the best recruiting officer. This is important to note because there was a whole decades worth of young men who could not be harnessed and this was part of the reason for such an agressive recruiting campaign. In short: This song is about a wounded soldier who was fooled into fighting an unarmed foe but the social issues underlying this song are an absolute minefield to the Scots & Irish. |
Subject: RE: DT Attribution & Minor Corrections PermaThread From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 08 Oct 10 - 02:55 PM Joe, the words are 'pains' and 'wanes' in the Connolly song. A rhyme. Not 'weans'. Moreover, lines are altered from the Glasgow Scots dialect. "Like drinkin' wi' squaddies and bullin' my boots" etc. etc. |
Subject: Lyr Add: I'M ASKING YOU SERGEANT, WHERE'S MINE? From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 08 Oct 10 - 03:15 PM Perhaps a few corrections to the Connolly song- I'm Asking You, Sergeant, Where's Mine? I'm lyin' in bed, I'm in room twenty-six Thinkin' on things that i've done Like drinkin' wi' squaddies and bullin' my boots I'm countin' the medals i've won. These hospital wards they're all drab lookin' joints But the ceiling's as much as I can see It could do with a wee touch of paper or paint But then again, maybe that's me. Chorus: Oh, sergeant, is this the adventure you meant When I put my name down on the line All that talk of computers and sunshine and skis Oh, I'm askin' you, sergeant, where's mine. I've a brother in Glasgow wi' long, curly hair When I joined up he said I was daft He says shootin' strangers *is nae his game *just is'na That brother of mine is'na saft. But I can put up wi' most things I've done in the time I can even put up with the pains But what do you do wi' a gun in your hand When you're faced with a hundred odd wanes. |
Subject: RE: Add:I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine(Connolly) From: buddhuu Date: 08 Oct 10 - 04:15 PM Or "weans", perhaps... |
Subject: RE: Add:I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine(Connolly) From: Dave MacKenzie Date: 08 Oct 10 - 05:52 PM The tune is, of course, a variant of "Fareweel Tae the Creeks", by Pipe Major James Robertson of Banff, which is the tune Hamish Henderson used for "The 51st Highland Division's Farewell to Sicily", and the original tune is what is used for the bit shown as la-la above, though when I sing it, I use "hi-heederum, hoderum" as in canntaireachd. |
Subject: DT Corr: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine? From: Joe Offer Date: 16 Oct 10 - 01:36 AM We have a lot of disagreement on the lyrics of this song. It's clear that the transcription in the Digital Tradition needs work but what do we replace it with? Can we come up with a definitive transcription and post it here? -Joe- I'm going to do something dangerous to life and limb and post MY transcription of the Dubliners recording, (which is based on the transcription above by Mick Lowe, as well as the many other transcriptions above). More accurately, it's a composite of all the transcriptions above, not the work of any one of us. And since Little John Cameron and Murray said "weans", I'm saying "weans." I'm not decided on "is nae saft" or "is'na saft" - which is better? I gather from other posts that Billy Connolly is singing lead on the Dubliners recording. Any corrections? -Joe- I'M ASKING YOU SERGEANT, WHERE'S MINE? (Billy Connolly) I'm lying in bed, I'm in room 26, Thinking on things that I've done; Like drinking with squaddies and bulling my boots, And counting the medals I've won. These hospital wards, they're all drab-looking joints, But the ceiling's as much as I see; They could do with a wee touch o' paper or paint, But then again maybe that's me. CHORUS: Oh sergeant, is this the adventure you meant When I put my name down on the line? All that talk of computers and sunshine and skis, All I'm asking you, sergeant, where's mine? I've a brother in Glasgow with long, curly hair, When I joined up he said I was daft; He says shooting strangers just is nae his game, That brother of mine is nae saft. But I can put up with most things I've done in my time, I can even put up with the pains; But what do you do with a gun in your hand, When you're faced with a hundred-odd weans? CHORUS (three times): Oh sergeant, is this the adventure you meant When I put my name down on the line? All that talk of computers and sunshine and skis, All I'm asking you, sergeant, where's mine? From the Dubliners CD, Thirty Years A-Greying The tune is a variant of "Fareweel Tae the Creeks", by Pipe Major James Robertson of Banff, which is the tune Hamish Henderson used for "The 51st Highland Division's Farewell to Sicily." @Army @Scottish filename[ SARGWHER |
Subject: RE: Add:I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine(Connolly) From: Dave MacKenzie Date: 16 Oct 10 - 04:03 AM I'm not too keen on the version he sings with the Dubliners - it's a bit anglicized. |
Subject: RE: Add:I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine(Connolly) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 16 Oct 10 - 02:42 PM The Balladeers have lyrics to this and many other songs. Dunno which version is the 'correctest'. I'm Asking You |
Subject: RE: Add:I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine(Connolly) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 16 Oct 10 - 02:46 PM Balladeers- http://www.theballadeers.com/lyrics_12.htm |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE WILLING CONSCRIPT (Tom Paxton) From: John MacKenzie Date: 16 Oct 10 - 03:14 PM THE WILLING CONSCRIPT (Tom Paxton) Oh sergeant I'm a draftee and I've just arrived in camp I've come to wear the uniform and join the martial tramp And I want to do my duty but one thing I do implore You must give me lessons sergeant for I've never killed before To do my job obediently is my only desire To learn my weapon thoroughly and how to aim and fire To learn to kill the enemy and then to slaughter more I'll need instruction sergeant for I've never killed before Now there are rumors in the camp about our enemy They say that when you see him he looks just like you and me But you deny it sergeant and you are a man of war You must give me lessons sergeant for I've never killed before Now there are several lessons that I haven't mastered yet I haven't got the hang of how to use that bayonet If he doesn't die at once am I to stick it with him more I hope you will be patient for I've never killed before And a hand grenade is something that I just don't understand You've got to throw it quickly or you're apt to lose your hand Does it blow a man to pieces with its wicked muffled roar I've got so much to learn because I've never killed before I want to thank you sergeant for the help you've been to me You taught me how to kill and how to hate the enemy And I know that I'll be ready when they march me off to war I know that it won't matter that I've never killed before |
Subject: RE: Add:I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine(Connolly) From: GUEST,Desi C Date: 16 Oct 10 - 04:48 PM Billy wrote the song after seeing an Irish TV Docu re British soldiers in Northern Ireland, later back in Glasgow looking in the window of an army recruitment office he was struck by what the army offer in recruitment drives compared to the reality of urban peace keeping. 'Wains' are definitely children, soldiers were often faced with small children shouting at them and getting in the way of the snatch squads, the term made it's way from Scottish protestants brought over to Belfast to takr shipbuilding jobs in order to keep them from Catholics, the term originaly would have been Bairn, common term in Scotland for Child, and changed in time to Wain |
Subject: RE: Add:I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine(Connolly) From: Dave MacKenzie Date: 16 Oct 10 - 05:32 PM Weans, pronounced waynes just to confuse our friends from Essex, is a contraction of wee yins (little ones). |
Subject: RE: Add:I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine(Connolly) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 16 Oct 10 - 11:26 PM And confused several of the lyrics sites, which have 'wanes'. And me- I tried looking up 'wanes' in Scottish and Irish glossaries. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant, Where's Mine? From: GUEST,John Cunningham Date: 18 Apr 11 - 12:17 PM I haven't heard the Dubliners' version, but the original version was on Billy's 1974 album "Cop yer whack for this" - the title of which comes from an anecdote about his "lucky" uncle Freddie, featured on the LP. Another military reference. Great punch line too. On the original, the soldier has "A brother in Partick with long curly hair" - i.e not "a brother in Glasgow". Partick is the area of Glasgow where Connolly grew up, so we can assume the brother to be Billy himself. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant, Where's Mine? From: GUEST,Mairead Date: 20 Aug 16 - 11:18 AM Joe Offler's lyrics definitely look canonical to me. 'Wean' and 'bairn' are both in use as regional terms -- 'bairn' came over with the Vikings from Scandinavia, where it's 'barn', whereas 'wean' (pron. 'wane') is home-grown. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant, Where's Mine From: Steve Shaw Date: 20 Aug 16 - 08:15 PM This song was on the very first folk music album I ever bought, the final track on a vinyl double compilation album called All The Folk That Fits, that I bought for a quid some time in the 80s. The records contained several tracks each by Planxty, the Bothies and De Dannan that got me into this music bigtime. It wasn't this song that really grabbed me, but I love Billy anyway and have been to two of his live gigs, out of both of which I almost needed an ambulance to rescue me, having nearly died from the pain of laughter! |
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