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The pipie is tuned and he's piping our way,
And up comes the town for his vino today;
The sky is like Antrim all cloudy and grey,
And the song that he's playing is eerie.
So fare thee well ye banks of Sicily,
Fare thee well ye valleys and shores;
There's no Jock will mourn the lot of ye,
Poor bloody soldiers are weary.
It's march down the stairs, and line on the bay,
Packs on your backs, and the boats are away;
Waiting your turn while the pipe and drum play,
And the tune that they're playing is eerie.
So fare thee well ye banks of Sicily,
Fare thee well ye valleys and shores;
There's no Jock will mourn the lot of ye,
Poor bloody soldiers are weary.
The drummie is fine and the drummie is grand,
He cannot be seen for his stuff and his band;
He heaves himself up for a photo and stands,
And leaves with his Lola, his dearie.
So fare thee well ye banks of Sicily,
Fare thee well ye valleys and shores;
There's no Jock will mourn the lot of ye,
Poor bloody soldiers are weary.
Fare thee well, ye banks of Sicily,
Fare thee well, ye valleys and shores;
There's no Jock will mourn the lot of ye,
Poor bloody soldiers are weary.
This arrangement recorded by Ryan's Fancy (Looking Back, trk#11, 1972, Audat Records, Oshawa, ON).
See more songs by Ryan's Fancy.
A variant was also recorded by the Government Rams (Good Work — If You Can Get It, trk#2, 2001, produced by Chris Andrews, St. John's, NL).
Note: In his original version of his song, Hamish Henderson commemorates The 51st Highland Division's Farewell To Sicily following the Allied invasion on July 10, 1943, considered to be the largest amphibious assault of the Second World War.
The Random House College Dictionary defines Jock as an innocent lad; a country boy. Other sources define Jock as a disparaging term for a Scottish soldier (like an English Tommy) and a nickname by such units as the British 9th (Scottish) Division, the Jocks.
The YouTube video below features a variant by Tony from Port St. Mary on the Isle of Man.
