My name is William Warrener, I am a simple working man

To support my loving family was my only plan

But my name was drawn one cold hard dawn in a random lottery

For we were at war and by the law I was forced into duty

They called it a ballot but we called it conscription

A militia force was called upon to deal with insurrection

For the ‘Seven Years War’ had stretched the British Army thin

From America to India, to France and into Spain

So they dressed me in a coat of red and stuck a musket in my fist

For with other workers of the land I had been forced to enlist

We were lined up in the corner of Hexham town square

To face our very own kind, I was riddled with despair

And the yellow sun beat down from a sky so blue

In my tunic red, so full of dread what was I supposed to do?

I felt so blue, that was all I knew

And as I felt the sunlight on my face my bowels loosed with fear

I sensed the tension in that place as the rioters drew near

Our good officers Allgood and Reed in the height of all their folly

Gave the order casually to let loose a fearsome volley

Then the cry went up to charge and my bayonet knew its sting

He bobbed just like a rag doll hanging from a string

Then our two brave loyal officers upped sticks and fled

To hide inside a hayloft as Hexham wept and bled

And the yellow sun beat down from a sky so blue

In my tunic red, so full of dread what was I supposed to do?

I felt so blue, that was all I knew

I wish I’d had the courage to step forward and say no

But I was afraid and far too small to break the status quo

The townsfolk called us butchers, and I suppose that is our lot

But if that’s a title I must bear it’s something that I’m not

Released from the militia, I work at my normal trade

And though I did my duty I cannot help but feel betrayed

I draw courage from my wife and the son sat on my knee

I nurse my wounds but my mental scars will not so quickly heal

And the yellow sun beat down from a sky so blue

In my tunic red, so full of dread what was I supposed to do?

I felt so blue, that was all I knew

And the yellow sun beat down

(Gary Miller)

© 2003 Whippet Records

Copyright Control MCPS/PRS

One of several songs Gary was commissioned to write for Hexham Riot, 1761.

Other songs from the 'Hexham Riot, 1761' project include : -

'Bloody Monday', 'The Horrific Execution of Poor Peter Patterson', 'Insurrection', 'Stand Fast, Stand Steady.