For reasons that will become apparent on Sunday, I have been researching what I thought was an Irish song called “The King’s Shilling”.
Many think, as I did, the song is a traditional Irish folk song, but in fact it was written by a Scottish musician, Ian Sinclair in the late 1970s. It is an anti-war song, told from a woman’s perspective.
Good old Wikipedia says that “The King's shilling, sometimes called the Queen's shilling when the sovereign is female, is a historical slang term referring to the … payment of one shilling given to recruits to the armed forces of the UK in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries … To "take the King's shilling" was to agree to serve as a sailor or soldier in the Royal Navy or the British Army. … The practice officially stopped in 1879, although the term is still used informally and there are some cases of it being used still in the early 20th century, albeit largely symbolically.”
There are many youtube versions of the song … but this one, with Irish singer Karan Casey and James Taylor, I found particularly breathtaking. I don’t know why I haven’t heard of Karan Casey before, but I will be looking for her music in the future.
The refrain goes:
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar Tak the King’s shillig; an we’re aff tae war
In another youtube video, Karan Casey, in her introduction to the song at Celtic Connections 2017 in Glasgow, said that it is an anti-colonial song that has relevance today, and is a call to fight anyone who seeks to diminish the humanity in another human.
Well, that fits, I thought. To see what all this could possibly have to do with anything, you’ll have to tune in on Sunday, or come in person!
Also, this week, I will finish Jenny’s Boy A Newfoundland Childhood, by Wayne Johnston. It’s the fourth of the Canada Reads 2025 books I have read this summer. I might have to stop there, at least for awhile … the wait list for a digital copy from the library for the last one, Watch Out For Her, by Samantha M. Bailey, says it is still 15 weeks away.
I have enjoyed all of the ones I have read … and almost want to go back and watch the Canada Reads episodes again to hear the discussions. Each one becomes my favourite as I am reading it. Jenny’s Boy, as champion Linwood Barclay in the Canada Reads contest said, is both tragic and funny – even hilarious at times. I have actually laughed out loud a number of times. I have read several of his previous books, and am in awe at his survival and resilience!
As I have said several times in my sermons, there are common themes of the four I have read, and they relate well to our conversations about families, resilience, trauma, and the history of Canada. And this week’s theme as well – multigenerational, extended. and chosen families.
A few folks have expressed interest in gathering for a conversation about the Canada Reads books. I will host a conversation in the chapel on Wednesday, August 27 at 2:00 about any of the books … if you have read any, or just one, or if you are just curious, please feel free to join us for an informal and free wheeling conversation about this year’s selections. You can certainly get a sense of all of them by visiting the Canada Reads website, watching some of the discussions or the trailers for each book. (see bulletin insert this week for links).
Blessings on your weekend!
Martha
