The True Deserter
Into the fair one day I went in hopes to meet a master;
I wasn't very long up there when a sergeant he came after.
Right fannan-a, fannan-annan-a, Right fannan erin in an a dee!
He says Will you enlist young man? Indeed, sir, I'm not willing.
You're clever and you're sharp young man, come here and take the shilling.
Right fannan-a, fannan-annan-a, Right fannan erin in an a dee!
They put a stock around my neck, and on me a steel jacket;
And every time I turned around the sergeant made a racket.
Right fannan-a, fannan-annan-a, Right fannan erin in an a dee!
In the learning of my exercise the weather being so warm,
I thought my heart would break in two when I thought of sweet Lough Erne.
Right fannan-a, fannan-annan-a, Right fannan erin in an a dee!
I said to myself I would desert when the guard room it was silent;
I climbed up to the sentry box and laid down my gun and bayonet.
Right fannan-a, fannan-annan-a, Right fannan erin in an a dee!
I climbed the wall made my way good, and bound for sweet Lough Erne
I'd not gone more than half a mile when the drums beat in the town.
Right fannan-a, fannan-annan-a, Right fannan erin in an a dee!
I threw myself into a ditch with the green grass growing round me,
And they drew nigh and passed me by, but they never spied poor Kelly.
Right fannan-a, fannan-annan-a, Right fannan erin in an a dee!
It was twelve o'clock that very same night when I reached the home of my father,
It is your son, your only son, come home a true deserter.
Right fannan-a, fannan-annan-a, Right fannan erin in an a dee!