Deserter, The

X:4089
T:Deserter, The
S:Digital Tradition, dserter2
D:Recorded by Fairport Convention on Liege and Lief and by the Young Tradition as "Ratcliff Highway"
Z:dt:dserter2
M:3/4
L:1/8
Q:1/4=100
W:As I was a-walking down Radcliffe highway
W:A recruiting party came a-beating my way
W:They enlisted me and treated me till I did not know
W:And to the Queen's barracks they forced me to go
W:
W:When first I deserted, I thought myself free
W:Until my cruel comrade informed against me
W:I was quickly followed after and brought back with speed
W:I was handcuffed and guarded, heavy irons put on me
W:
W:Court martial, court martial, they help upon me
W:And the sentence passed upon me, three hundred and three
W:May the Lord have mercy on them for their sad cruelty
W:For now the Queen's duty lies heavy on me
W:
W:When next I deserted, I thought myself free
W:Until my cruel sweetheart informed against me
W:I was quickly followed after and brought back with speed
W:I was handcuffed and guarded, heavy irons put on me
W:
W:Court martial, court martial, then quickly was got
W:And the sentence passed upon me, that I was to be shot
W:May the Lord have mercy on them for their sad cruelty
W:For now the Queen's duty lies heavy on me
W:
W:Then up rode Prince Albert in his carriage and sticks
W:Saying "Where is that young man whose coffin is fixed?
W:Set him free from his irons and let him go free
W:For he'll make a good soldier for his Queen and country"
K:G
A,2 |"D"D3-^C B,B,|"A"A,2 "G"D2 "D"A2|"G"G2 F2 E-D|"C"C2 "G"B,2 "A"A,A,|\
"D"D3-^C B,2|"A"A,2 "G"D2 "D"AA|"G"G2 F-D "A"E2|"D"D4 AA|
"G"G3A BB|"D"AA D2 A2|"G"G2 F2 E-D|"C"C2- B,2 "A"A,2|\
"D"D3^C B,2|"A"A,2 "G"D2 "D"A2|"G"G2 "D"F-D "A"E2|"D"D4 ||

Alternative sources for this tune:

• trillian.mit.edu/~jc/music/abc/mirror/LesterBailey/melnets_big_abc_file/03179
• trillian.mit.edu/~jc/music/abc/mirror/OTIS_Irish_Session/melnets_big_abc_file/03179
• trillian.mit.edu/~jc/music/abc/mirror/home.quicknet.nl/england/1509
• trillian.mit.edu/~jc/music/abc/mirror/kirby98.fsnet.co.uk/de/Deserter_The_1/0000
• trillian.mit.edu/~jc/music/abc/mirror/terra.es/personal8/niltoni/d/0414

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