LANCASHIRE LADS
Traditional


It was last Monday
morning,
I heard them call and
say,
The orders came this
afternoon,
we're bound to march
away.

Chorus:
For the Lancashire lads have
gone abroad,
whatever shall we do?
They're leaving may a pretty
fair maids to cry,
what shall I do?

Said the mother to the
daughter,
what makes you talk so
strange.
That you want to marry
a soldier lad,
the whole wide world to
range.
For soldiers they are
ramblin' boys,
they have but little
pay.
Can they maintain a
wife and child
on sixteen pence a day?

Chorus:

Said the father to the
daughter,
"I'll have you close
confined.
You'll never marry a
soldier lad.
He'll be no son of
mine.
If you confine me seven
long years
and after set me free,
I'll go and find my
soldier lad
when I gain my liberty.

Chorus:

My true loved dressed
in scarlet
and turned up with the
blue
And every place the he
goes in
my sweetheart is true.
For they have
sweethearts enough,
me boys, and girls to
please their minds,
But I'll never forget
sweat Manchester,
the girls they left
behind.



(Contributed by Andy & Mogg - December 2002)