Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier

[@skippymagrue]

It was genius to cast John Tams.

[@pazak7402]

SO TRUE

[@MattRawwr]

It's no co-incidence that John Tams was in the show.... He was one of two co-writers who composed all the music for it! But yeah, truly a great idea to have him in it as the singing rifleman rather than just hiding off-screen.

[@rezlogan4787]

It takes a rare musician to pull such poignant harmony out of so sparse an accompaniment as pizzicato violin. A great musical accomplishment scuttled in as a 40 second cameo. I still watch this clip 5 years after first seeing it in the Sharpe episode. To this day, I haven’t heard a better version of the song. Tams so casually made the definitive rendition that it’s easy to underappreciate how much songcraft is on display here.

[@CorripeCerevisiam]

I know! I wish there was a full length version of this one. I know there's a studio one he did but it just lacks the rawness of this version.

[@cpt.awesome7281]

Holy hell-I'm not the only one? None of the versions I find seem to be perfect and that scene made me IMMEDIATELY look up the song. Even his version from the Sharpe album has too much power behind the gentle piece. I'd cover it but I'm only a voice. :(

[@akbsignet]

Tams here really has distilled the very nature of this song. So talented musician.

[@Grumpyoldgamer310]

Couldn’t agree more. I ended up buying all of John Tams albums and the sharp soundtrack after watching him in Sharpe. As mentioned the Album effect this raw version does. I also think this kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHTHoGCBn86HosU is a wonderful version but in a more haunting, lilting way.

[@osr4152]

Well said. I first heard this when I saw the episode 25 years ago and it still moves me.

[@elizana3575]

i love how Harris is sewing while listening to Hagman. It's just a moment so natural that I'm touched every time

[@GratifyMeNow13]

This is the definitive version of Johnny has gone for Soldier. It’s so simple yet carries so much emotional quality. Just wish it was longer.

[@CountZurich]

RIP Hagman and the rest of the chosen men

[@toska8664]

I'm a 26 year old black metal musician and I cried my fucking eyes out when I first heard this. Stunning.

[@erebusnoya3356]

this is my favourite version of this song. i've tried to look for better also and can't find. i just wish this was longer, but its something at least. i think maybe my favourite tv show ever is sharpe, if i'm honest with myself.

[@charlottemijatovic3150]

There's a longer version on the 'Music of Sharpe' CD. I highly recommend it :D

[@erebusnoya3356]

Charlotte Mijatovic thanks charlotte i will get then. my next payday.

[@bluegreydude4]

Erebus Noya Listen to the version by James Taylor and Mark O'Connor from the miniseries "The Revolution"....it's a bit faster than the traditional version but worth a listen.

[@erebusnoya3356]

bluegreydude4 thank you i will. i do like slow music. i find it to be more emotional, and that's what i like most about music. emotional music. that is probably derived from when i used to be a depressive. this has a tinge of sadness to it. and that make's it sound more meaningful. to sing this fast would utterly destroy the meaning of the words. too fast it would anyway. it would sound ridiculous. i'll listen james taylor now bluegrey thank you very much.

[@erebusnoya3356]

bluegreydude4 oh yes i've heard. it's not too fast it's okay. there's still something about john tamms version for me. i really do like it.

[@thinkforyourself2109]

These old songs are one of the best parts of this series.

[@Bryt25]

I really like that it appears to be 'live' rather than a studio recording. Lots of great production values in the series.

[@Rswipes83]

Hagman and Harris demise at la hay saint still cuts me up.

[@TimStamper89]

This is the best version hands down I wish he'd recreate it with the full song. I like the one he released but this fir ke is pinnacle

[@boghoss5798]

For me this moment is the ultimate culmination of what makes this series so special. In this moment you really feel as if you could reach out and touch these characters, they are real here. The moments like this in this show are admittedly few and far between, but there’s something so tangible about them when they do occur. In this moment you are in Portugal with the 95th, you share the hardships, meager rations, the sole-less boots and blistered feet. And John tams brings it to life with his casual, melancholic rendition of this song. It is truly beautiful and heart-wrenching.

[@turbonerd6552]

This is the best 30 seconds on KZbin

[@dav01kar]

The British army needed soldiers like John all them hundreds of years ago, to boost morale.!! Well that's how I would have seen it.

[@cpt.awesome7281]

Lmao most of the guys would tell me to stfu when I sang on the flightline. Some liked it because of my voice but not even a decent voice gives ya a free pass. How the world has changed. 😂😅

[@konradknox]

RIP Dan Hagman. RIP chosen men.

[@MrTrevor181]

Hagman's a Great character in the series - it's sad he was killed off in the last episode.

[@mrdude2010]

It seems poor repayment for marching with Sharpe for a decade (including training), but then again, that is one of the risks of the profession.

[@CountZurich]

@@mrdude2010 actually even though the series went on for so long, Sharpe took charge of the chosen men in 1809 and Waterloo happened in 1815

[@TransoceanicOutreach]

SPOILERS FFS

[@Bryt25]

He would have melted in the two India episodes...! BTW I'm very impressed now reading the book versions on Kindle and the detail, and almost like a new series, which I missed greatly. Fantastic production for a tv budget.

[@Unclebarry94]

@@TransoceanicOutreach mate it ended 14 years ago

[@DDickinson458]

Every time he sings in the show its SO English and so very cool.

[@yossariancomplex]

Best rendition.

[@turbonerd6552]

Best part is changing sword to coat. It makes so much more sense

[@boghoss5798]

It is history come to life.

[@jameswhyman4127]

Very much a big part of growing up a pad brat, Sharpe and the chosen men.

[@ThirdPointInLine]

Had to loop the video 30 times but I managed to learn how to play it ^^

[@mergrew0110]

Even in the Napoleonic wars, the army was, Hurry up, and wait!

[@zachgeorge98]

give us a tune dan

[@tracylynnoconnor106]

That's an Irish song. Shule a run (apologies if I've misspelled the gaelic).

[@tonymolloy6165]

it's actually an american version of an irish song "Johnny has gone for a soldier". The original irish song is called Siúil a Rún ( Walk my Love ). Strange that it should turn up in Sharpe.

[@thetruth3213]

Originally american, i think, but not tgat it matters...a stunning lament beautifully sung

[@richardmorgan4356]

Interesting how songs evolve and are adopted by different cultures. I am guessing that it was adopted during the American civil war with the number of Irish who travelled to the USA to fight in the war

[@turbonerd6552]

❤❤❤❤

[@arwena102]

Thank you for this vid! Wouldn't it be a great idea to cut out of the Sharpe movies all the Hagman's songs and make a vid of them? I wish someone did it because I spend a lot of time looking for these moments in the movies when I'm in a right "JT" mood! ;)

[@sixfootbear]

very very good idea.

[@hughscott7389]

agreed Arwena.

[@jonathanfox1]

erm........SPOILER!!!