The story of a young man tricked into taking the kings shilling and being sent into war In the name of the king.

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One evening, one evening, one evening last summer
One evening last summer I went for to see
The comings and goings down by the quayside
And to fill my belly with whiskey and beer
My mother said son don’t go to the quayside
There is so much danger down there you see
Your father was taken and sent to a war son
In a land far away in the name of the King

Oh mother dear mother you don’t have to worry
For I'm much too cleaver, too cleaver you see
To be fooled by the soldiers who are out recruiting
I’ll never take the Kings shilling you see
So I went to a bar and I met with a gentleman
May I sit here at this table with you
If you allow me to share in your company
I’ll buy you whiskey and I’ll buy you beer

We talked and we joked and we had such a fine time
The hours passed by so quickly you see
Then I staggered off home and fell into bed
And quick fell into a slumber so deep
Bright and early next morning my mother awoke me
There is someone here who would talk with you
My joy turned to horror when I again saw the gentleman
All dressed in the uniform of the King

The sergeant said son you took the Kings shilling
Last night you took the Kings shilling from me
Now there’s a ship rigged and ready down in the harbour
To take you to serve the King overseas

Now I stand in a field with my comrades around me
We stand ten abreast with our muskets all primed
And there in the distance I can see our enemy
And I know that the time for killing is neigh

Instrumental (the battle)

Now I stand in this field and I look around me
At my comrades who are dead or wounded near me
And I mourn the day that I went to the quayside
The day that I changed my own destiny

Now listen me lads don’t go to the quayside
There is so much danger down there you see
Many a young man has been sent into war
In lands far away in the name of the King