Discover the story of the song > The King’s Shilling – Karan Casey

The protagonist's love has left her with two children and joined the army. He took the king's shilling and went off to war. As he marched along, the ladies admired him and the soldiers sang. The battle was fierce, with guns and bayonets flashing, but the protagonist wonders if the shilling was really worth the war, as many brave men would never fight for the king again. The chorus reminds the laddies that if they take the king's shilling, they too may die in war.