Kelly's Lamentation (The Deserter)

DESCRIPTION: Kelly quarrels with his parents and leaves home. On his way to a hiring fair, he meets a sergeant, who buys his drinks and tells him he has enlisted. His parents cannot buy his freedom. Kelly deserts and returns home, but soon takes sick and dies
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1906 (JIFSS)
KEYWORDS: home family soldier money drink desertion escape disease death
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Gardham-EarliestVersions, "DESERTER, THE II"
Henry/Huntingdon/Herrmann-SamHenrysSongsOfThePeople H223, pp. 83-84, "The Deserter" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #2405
File: HHH223

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