Oh what's the matter with you my lass
And where's your dashing Jimmy
The soldier boys have picked him up
And sent him far, far from me
Last payday he went into town
And them red-coated fellows
Enticed him in and made him drunk
An he'd better gone to the gallows

The very sight of his cockade
It sets us all a-crying
And me I nearly fainted twice
I thought that I was dying
My father would have paid the smart
And he ran for the golden guinea
But the sergeant swore he'd kissed the book
So now they've got young Jimmy

When Jimmy talks about the wars
It's worse than death to hear him
I must go out and hide my tears
Because I can never bear him
A brigadier or grenadier
He says they're sure to make him
And aye he jibes and cracks his jokes
And bids me not forsake him

As I walked o'er the stubble field
Below it runs the seam
I thought of Jimmy hewing there
But it was all a dream
He hewed the very coals we burn
And when the fire I'm lighting
To think the lumps were in his hands
Would set my heart a-beating

So break my heart and then it's o'er
Oh break my heart my dearie
And I lie in the cold, green ground
For of single life I'm weary