Lyrics
To the beat of the pipes and drums.
She stood alone on the sandy hill, facing toward the sea,
Oh Michael dearest Michael, where can ye be?
How I miss your strong embrace, since you’ve gone off to war.
Oh Michael please come home to me, go adventuring no more.
On an ill defined, dusty track, in a land all parched and dry,
Five thousand miles away from home, beneath an eastern sky,
To the Sergeant Major’s crisp clear voice, five hundred soldiers moved as one.
They marched along with an easy tread, to the beat of the pipes and drums.
All the while at home is a lonely lass, who waited as her heart cried,
She knew not the soldier ways, or if they lived or died.
Why must men go off a waring, leaving us women here alone?
What joy is in adventure, that they cannot get here at home?
They found the enemy upon high ground, entrenched behind a wall,
Quickly they formed the lines and squares, and marched forward into war.
Up the hill they soldiered on, toward the yawning guns,
Men screamed and cried and many died, to the beat of the pipes and drums.
With a rushing heart she awoke with a start, got to her knees and prayed.
Michael darling Michael, God please let him be saved,
God I ask you please hear me tonight, please keep Michael safe for me,
You know I do not idly ask for help, so I pray you hear my pleas.
To the Sergeant Major’s pain wracked voice, and the beat of a single drum,
The soldiers trudged home with pride, they’d been outnumbered three to one,
Is a battle won a victory with so many killed and maimed?
Of five hundred who marched up the hill, only fifty walked away!
She had heard about the battle and her heart was filled with dread,
Till the day she saw framed by the door a man missing half his leg,
I’ve lost part me leg dear Mary, I expect you won’t love me still,
Now I’m no more a man, if you want me to go I will.
She fell into his strong embrace, Oh Michael there ye be,
Thank you lord for keeping him safe, and bring him back to me.
It matters not you’ve lost a leg, while you were in the war,
Maybe now you’ll stay with me, and go adventuring no more,
