BUTTERMILK HILL (JOHNNY HAS GONE FOR A SOLDIER)
(Traditional)

Version 1
recorded by
Peter, Paul & Mary -
1962
under the title GONE THE RAINBOW

Shule, shule, shule-a-roo
 Shule-a-rak-shak, shule-a-ba-ba-coo 
When I saw my Sally Babby Beal Come 
bibble in the boo shy Lorey

Shule, shule, shule-a-roo 
Shule-a-rak-shak, shule-a-ba-ba-coo
When I saw my Sally Babby Beal 
Come bibble in the boo shy Lorey

Here I sit on Buttermilk Hill 
Who could blame me, cry my fill 
Every tear would turn a mill 
Johnny's gone for a soldier

Shule, shule, shule-a-roo 
Shule-a-rak-shak, shule-a-ba-ba-coo 
When I saw my Sally Babby Beal 
Come bibble in the boo shy Lorey

I sold my flax, I sold my wheel 
To buy my love a sword of steel 
So it in battle he might wield 
Johnny's gone for a soldier

Oh, my baby, oh, my love (Shule, shule, shule-a-roo) 
Gone the rainbow, gone the dove 
Your father was my only love (Shule, shule, shule-a-roo) 
Johnny's gone for a soldier

Shule, shule, shule-a-roo 
Shule-a-rak-shak, shule-a-ba-ba-coo 
When I saw my Sally Babby Beal 
Come bibble in the boo shy Lorey

Shule, shule, shule-a-roo 
Shule-a-rak-shak, shule-a-ba-ba-coo 
When I saw my Sally Babby Beal 
Come bibble in the boo shy Lorey


*********
Version 2
as recorded by Kristina Austin Scarcelli


Here I sit on Buttermilk Hill
Who can blame me, cryin' my fill
And ev'ry tear would turn a mill
Johnny has gone for a soldier

Me, oh my, I loved him so
Broke my heart to see him go
And only time will heal my woe
Johnny has gone for a soldier

Shule, shule, shule agra
Time can only heal my woe
Since the lad of my heart from me did go
Johnny has gone for a soldier

I'll sell my flax and my spinning wheel
To buy my love a sword of steel
So it in battle he might wield
Johnny has gone for a soldier

With fife and drum he marched away
He would not heed what I did say
He'll not come back for many a day
Johnny has gone for a soldier

Shule, shule, shule agra
Time can only heal my woe
Since the lad of my heart from me did go
Johnny has gone for a soldier

Oh my baby, oh my love
Gone the rainbow, gone the dove
Your father was my one, true love
Johnny has gone for a soldier

Shule, shule, shule agra
Time can only heal my woe
Since the lad of my heart from me did go
Johnny has gone for a soldier

Shule, shule, shule agra
Time can only heal my woe
Since the lad of my heart from me did go
Johnny has gone for a soldier

Johnny has gone for a soldier
Johnny has gone for a soldier

*********
Version 3

Here I sit on Buttermilk Hill
Who can blame me, cryin' my fill
And ev'ry tear would turn a mill,
Johnny has gone for a soldier.

Me, oh my, I loved him so,
Broke my heart to see him go,
And only time will heal my woe,
Johnny has gone for a soldier.

I'll sell my rod, I'll sell my reel,
Likewise I'll sell my spinning wheel,
And buy my love a sword of steel,
Johnny has gone for a soldier.

I'll dye my dress, I'll dye it red,
And through the streets I'll beg for bread,
For the lad that I love from me has fled,
Johnny has gone for a soldier. 

*********
Version 4

Here I sit on Buttermilk Hill
Who could blame me cry my fill,
Every tear would turn a mill,
Johnny's gone for a soldier.
Oh my baby, oh my love,
Gone the rainbow, gone the dove,
Your father was my only love,
Johnny's gone for a soldier.

Me, oh my, I loved him so,
It broke my heart to see him go,
And only time will heal my woe,
Johnny's gone for a soldier.
Oh my baby, oh my love,
Gone the rainbow, gone the dove,
Your father was my only love,
Johnny's gone for a soldier.


I sold my flax, I sold my my wheel,
To buy my love a sword of steel,
So it in battle, he may wield,
Johnny's gone for a soldier.
Oh my baby, oh my love,
Gone the rainbow, gone the dove,
Your father was my only love,
Johnny's gone for a soldier.