Annotation:Deadly Wars (The)

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DEADLY WARS, THE. Scottish, English; Air and March. C Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AA'BB'. The song is a version of Scottish poet Robert Burns's song "When Wild War'd Deadly Blast," contributed to Thomson's Select Collection of Original Scottish Airs (1793), said to have been written after hearing a poor soldier relate his experiences in a little inn at Brownhill, Nithsdale. Burns thought the indicated tune should be "Mill, Mill Oh (The)."

When wild war's deadly blast was blawn,
And gentle peace returning,
Wi' mony a sweet babe fatherless
And mony a widow mourning.
I left the lines and tented field
Where lang I'd been a lodger
My humble knapsack all my wealth
A poor but honest sodger.

The tune was entered into several early 19th century musicians' manuscript collections, including those of John Clare (Helpstone)

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Carlin (Master Collection), 1984; No. 36, p. 32.

Recorded sources:

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