When I was young, my parents had a beat up old casette tape of songs. 
I think a friend of my Dad's made it for him.  The vague memory of one
particular song on the tape has remained with me for the past 30
years, and try as I might, I cannot seem to find any information about
it.

All I can remember is that it was early on in 1973, and the song was
about a British soldier in Northern Ireland.  The song told of how he
took his "King's Shilling" and eventually found himself on duty when
there was a bomb scare (in a shopping centre?).  As I recall, the song
described how the soldier protected the members of the public from the
bomb with his own body.

I haven't heard this song for 30 years.  I don't know what it is
called or who sings it.  It was a male singer and a simple
folkish/rock style.

If you can help me find out who sang it and what it was called, then I
will be very chuffed indeed as this is quite a tall order (and will
hail The Internet as a trully useful thing forevermore).

Thanks you.

Hello!

I’m fairly certain you’re looking for “Soldier” by Harvey Andrews.  
The song is from the 70’s, and describes exactly the scene you write
about.  It does not, at least in the lyrics I found, contain the words
“king’s shilling”, although that is a very common term that refers to
signing up for the British army.  “Soldier” was very controversial,
and was banned by the BBC.

http://mysongbook.de/msb/songs/s/soldier.html



Relevant searches:


British soldier folk song northern Ireland bomb

://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=british+soldier+folk+song+northern+ireland+bomb


Harvey Andrews soldier

://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=harvey+andrews+soldier



I hope that answers your question.

Best wishes,

bizguy

---

Clarification of Answer by bizguy-ga on 27 Nov 2002 10:24 PST

Hello again!

Re-reading the lyrics, they do mention "country's shilling."
Also, if you go to this page on Harvey's site,

http://www.harveyandrews.com/catalogue.html
and click on the album cover for "Writer of Songs" you can listen to a
clip of "Soldier."  Just click on the little "MP3" next to the listing
for the song.

bizguy

Brilliant! Thanks very much.  Within 24 hours as well.  I am impressed!