1) A band from Onta… Read Full Bio ↴"Siobhan" refers to three or more bands/artists.
1) A band from Ontario, Canada that plays Celtic punk and folk punk. The band consists of six members who play nine instruments. They have released two full length albums (The Patron Saints of Debauchery and Wellfare State) and an EP (McGravy's Iron Liver).
Musicbrainz
2) A female singer/songwriter from Melbourne, Australia playing acoustic folk/pop. She is a Triple J unearthed artist and has a 6-track EP called "Time on Me" recorded to her name. The debut album "Soldier Heart" has been released in May 2012.
www.siobhanmusic.com.au
3) One or more female singers whose albums can be found listed in the Albums section.
4) Detroit-based experimental techno musician, Travis Galloway.
Recruiting Sergeant
Siobhan Lyrics
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A feeling fine and larky oh
A recruiting sergeant came up to me
Says he, you'd look fine in khaki oh
For the King he is in need of men
Come read this proclamation oh
A life in Flanders for you then
Would be a fine vacation oh
That may be so says I to him
But tell me sergeant dearie-oh
If I had a pack stuck upon my back
Would I look fine and cheerie oh
For they'd have you train and drill until
They had you one of the Frenchies oh
It may be warm in Flanders
But it's draughty in the trenches oh
The sergeant smiled and winked his eye
His smile was most provoking oh
He twiddled and twirled his wee mustache
Says he, I know you're only joking oh
For the sandbags are so warm and high
The wind you won't feel blowing oh
Well I winked at a colleen a-passin' by
Says I, what if it's snowing oh
Come rain or hail or wind or snow
I'm not going out to Flanders oh
There's fighting in Dublin to be done
Let your sergeants and your commanders go
Let Englishmen fight English wars
It's nearly time they started oh
I saluted the sergeant a very good night
And there and then we parted, oh...
The song "Recruiting Sergeant" by Siobhan describes the encounter between a young man and a recruiting sergeant who tries to persuade him to join the army and fight in the war. The man is hesitant and expresses his concerns about the harsh conditions and the possibility of being sent to fight the French. The sergeant tries to convince him that wearing khaki and fighting in Flanders would be a fine vacation. However, the young man refuses and says that he would rather stay and fight in Dublin for his own country than fight in an English war. The song ends with the man politely bidding the sergeant farewell.
The lyrics of "Recruiting Sergeant" demonstrate the anti-war sentiment of many Irish people during the First World War. It is also a reminder of the propaganda and recruitment tactics used by governments to persuade young men to join the army. The song captures the reluctance of many men to go to war and serves as a warning against the glorification of warfare.
Line by Line Meaning
As I was walking down the road
While I was casually strolling on the way
A feeling fine and larky oh
I was enjoying the fresh air and felt carefree
A recruiting sergeant came up to me
Suddenly, a soldier who recruited others for the army approached me
Says he, you'd look fine in khaki oh
He said that I would look good in the uniform, as if he was complimenting me
For the King he is in need of men
He mentioned that the King required more men for the army
Come read this proclamation oh
He invited me to read the official statement with the details of the campaign
A life in Flanders for you then
He told me that I could live in Flanders if I joined the army
Would be a fine vacation oh
He described it as some sort of enjoyable trip to take
That may be so says I to him
I told him that it sounded intriguing, but...
But tell me sergeant dearie-oh
I addressed him in a friendly way, asking him...
If I had a pack stuck upon my back
What would happen if I carried a heavy backpack with equipment
Would I look fine and cheerie oh
I wondered if I would still be happy then
For they'd have you train and drill until
They would force me to undergo rigorous training and drills until...
They had you one of the Frenchies oh
...I would become one of the soldiers fighting against the French
It may be warm in Flanders
I acknowledged that it indeed could be pleasant living in Flanders
But it's draughty in the trenches oh
However, the trenches are not suitable for staying due to the cold wind blowing in
The sergeant smiled and winked his eye
Seeing through my reluctance, the sergeant found it amusing
His smile was most provoking oh
His grin taunted me
He twiddled and twirled his wee mustache
He played with his small mustache in a way that seemed mischievous
Says he, I know you're only joking oh
He sarcastically suggested that I was kidding
For the sandbags are so warm and high
He said that the sandbags would provide warmth and cover from the wind
The wind you won't feel blowing oh
And I would feel comfortable, not noticing the gusts of wind
Well I winked at a colleen a-passin' by
I flirted with a girl who happened to walk by
Says I, what if it's snowing oh
I proposed a condition that if it snowed, what would I do?
Come rain or hail or wind or snow
Regardless of the weather conditions
I'm not going out to Flanders oh
I firmly stated that I was not going to Flanders
There's fighting in Dublin to be done
I mentioned the ongoing battles in Dublin which required soldiers to be there
Let your sergeants and your commanders go
I told the recruiting sergeant that he should let his commanding officers go there instead
Let Englishmen fight English wars
I suggested that the English people should be involved in battles in their own country
It's nearly time they started oh
I conveyed that this should be happening soon
I saluted the sergeant a very good night
I showed my respect by saluting him and bidding him good night
And there and then we parted, oh...
And that was when we separated from each other
Contributed by Henry H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.