Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant, Where's Mine?

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:
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:
Scotch is both a drink and a language, Scottish is a nationality.

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
"...adventure you meant
.
...computers and sunshine and skis..."
is a direct reference to a British Army recruiting campaign of the appropriate period (ie post 1968). There's also a deliberate irony in using a Scottish soldier in an Irish situation fighting a British battle.
Granted the song serves as a generic anti-war song I'd point out that the British Army hasn't faced tanks in quantity since Suez.(1956)

I think I'm getting off topic about now so if you want to discuss this further I'll happily respond to Email: [e-mail]

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
Thinking on things that I've done
Like drinking with squaddies and bulling my boots
I'm counting the medals I've won
These Hospital wards there all (draft) looking joints (drab)?
But the sealing is much as I seen
It ca do with a wi' touch of paper or paint
But then I can maybe that's me

Chorus:
Oh sergeant is this the adventure you mend
When I put my name down on the line
Oh that talk of computers and sunshine and skies
Oh I'm asking you sergeant where's mine

I have a brother in Glasgow wi' long curly hair
When I joint up he says I was daft
He says shouldn't strangers just dastny his gain
That brother of mine is ni' soft
Well I can put up for most things I've done in me 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 wanes

Chorus (3x).^^

---

Note from Joe Offer: It has been established that this song was written by Billy Connolly.

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

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:
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

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
There's ne'er a night time gang tirome.

Jon

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Asking You Sergeant Where's Mine
From:
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:
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

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.