F
A recruiting sergeant came our way
        D                               F
From an Inn near town at the close of day
F
He said young Johnny you're a fine young man
Ab
Would you like to march along behind a military band,
Db
With a scarlet coat and a fine cocked hat,
Db
And a musket at your shoulder,

The shilling he took and he kissed the book,
Eb                                  F
Oh poor Johnny what'll happen to ya?


[Verse]
E
The recruiting sergeant marched away
Eb
From the Inn near town at the break of day,

Johnny came too with half a ring
Db
He was off to be a soldier to go fighting for the King
Eb
In a far off war in a far off land
    C
To face a foreign soldier,

But how will you fare when there's lead in the air,
F
Oh poor Johnny what'll happen to ya?


[Verse]
      G
When The sun rose high on a barren land
Abm                     Eb
Where a thin red line made a military stand,
F                                 Ab
There was sling shot, chain shot, grape shot too,
                     C
Swords and bayonets thrusting through,
                  Eb
Poor Johnny fell but the day was won
                G
And the King is grateful to you
              Gm                                Fm
But your soldiering's done and they're sending you home,
F
Oh poor Johnny what'll happen to ya?


[Verse]
F                     Fm
They said he was a hero and not to grieve

Over two ruined legs and empty sleeve,
F
Took him home and they set him down
Ab
With a military pension and a medal from the crown.
                       Eb
But You haven't an arm, you haven't a leg,
Eb
The enemy nearly slew ya,

You'll have to go out on the streets to beg,
               Bb
Oh poor Johnny wha'll happen to ya?


[Refrain]
F
A recruiting sergeant came our way
                   D
From an Inn near town at the close of day
            E
He said my Johnny you're a fine young man
Ab
Would you like to march along behind a military band,
                     Eb
With a scarlet coat and a fine cocked hat,

And a musket at your shoulder,
A
The shilling he took and he kissed the book,
F                                        Bb
Oh poor Johnny what'll happen to ya?


[Bridge 1]
   C           Eb                       C
O Polly love, O Polly, the route has now begun,
Eb                        Ab                  Eb
And we must go a-marching to the beating of a drum,

Come dress yourself all in your best and come along with me,
C                         Eb               C      Bm
I'll take you to the cruel wars, in High Germany.


[Bridge 2]
G                       Eb
O Harry, dearest Harry, mind well what I do say,
                                              G
My feet they are so tender and I cannot march away,
Eb
Besides, my dearest Harry, I am with child by thee,
C
Not fitted for the cruel wars, in High Germany.


[Verse]
         Eb
I'll buy you a horse my love, and on it you shall ride
                           G                  B
And all of my delights shall be walking at your side
Eb                                                          C
Will stop at every alehouse, and drink when we are dry
                 Eb
Be true to one another, get married by and by.


O'Cursed be the cruel wars, that ever they should rise
                    Ab           F       G
And note of mary England, press many a man likewise
   Eb                                              G
They took her Harry from her, likewise her brothers three
        Eb                    Bb     Eb Bb  C
And sent them to the cruel wars in High Germany