Johnny's Gone For a Soldier

"Johnny's Gone For a Soldier" is an old American folk song based on an Irish song. This is NOT mine. The author cannot be found by me research. But enjoy the song.
==Lyrics==
Here I sit on Buttermilk Hill
Who can blame me, cryin' my fill
And ev'ry tear would turn a mill,
Johnny has gone for a soldier.
Me, oh my, I loved him so,
Broke my heart to see him go,
And only time will heal my woe,
Johnny has gone for a soldier.
I'll sell my rod, I'll sell my reel,
Likewise I'll sell my spinning wheel,
And buy my love a sword of steel,
Johnny has gone for a soldier.
I'll dye my dress, I'll dye it red,
And through the streets I'll beg for bread,
For the lad that I love from me has fled,
Johnny has gone for a soldier.
==Actual History==
As said, it's American. Early, early American. And by that, the Revolution. "Johnny" was a common American name is those days.
With the third line, it talks about selling stuff. Likely because America didn't have wealth and had not separated and won the fight against Britain.
With the forth, she paints her dress red. Red for the blood spilled. Either from the country as a whole, or that Johnny had died, though unlikely as it says "Johnny has gone for a soldier". It also says she'll beg through the streets for bread, probably meaning she had selled her stuff but not gotten money for it, or is poor.