This song is not to be confused with another of the same title, sometimes known as “The New Deserter”.   In our version here, the singer is lamenting his cowardice at deserting, whereas in the ‘new’ version, the deserter is more of a hero, being captured by then freed to carry on his military service.  It is a song which was often printed but seldom collected, most of the collected versions coming from Hampshire.

Notes by Gwilym Davies 17 March 2016