D
ODh me and my cousin one Arthur McBride
AEs we went a-walkin' down by the seaside
MDark now what followed and what did betide
FEor it bein' on Christmas mornin'
NDow for recreation we went on a tramp
AEnd we met Sergeant Napper and Corporal Vamp
ADnd a little wee drummer intending to camp
FEor the day bein' pleasant and charmin'.
"DGood morning good morning" the Sergeant he cried.
"EAnd the same to you gentlemen" we did reply
IDntending no harm but meant to pass by
FEor it bein' on Christmas mornin'
"DBut" says he "My fine fellows if you will enlist
TEen guineas in gold I'll stick to your fist
ADnd a crown in the bargain for to kick up the dust
AEnd drink the king's health in the morning.
"DFor a soldier he leads a very fine life
AEnd he always is blessed with a charming young wife
ADnd he pays all his debts without sorrow or strife
AEnd he always lives pleasant and charmin'
ADnd a soldier he always is decent and clean
IEn the finest of clothing he's constantly seen.
WDhile other poor fellows go dirty and mean
AEnd sup on thin gruel in the morning."
D
"DBut" says Arthur "I wouldn't be proud of your clothes
FEor you've only the lend of them as I suppose
BDut you dare not change them one night for you know
IEf you do you'll be flogged in the morning
ADnd although that we're single and free
WEe take great delight in our own company
WDe have no desire strange places to see
AElthough that your offers are charming.
D
"DAnd we have no desire to take your advance
AEll hazards and dangers we barter on chance
FDor you'd have no scruples for to send us to France
WEhere we would get shot without warning"
"DOh no" says the Sergeant. "I'll have no such chat
AEnd neither will I take it from snappy young brats
FDor if you insult me with one other word
IE'll cut off your heads in the morning."
ADnd Arthur and I we soon drew our hogs
AEnd we scarce gave them time to draw their own blades
WDhen a trusty shillelagh came over their head
AEnd bid them take that as fair warning.
ADnd their old rusty rapiers that hung by their sides
WEe flung them as far as we could in the tide
"DNow take them up devils!" cried Arthur McBride
"EAnd temper their edge in the mornin'!"
ADnd the little wee drummer we flattened his bow
AEnd we made a football of his rowdy-dow-dow
TDhrew it in the tide for to rock and to roll
AEnd bade it a tedious returning
ADnd we havin' no money paid them off in cracks.
WEe paid no respect to their two bloody backs
ADnd we lathered them there like a pair of wet sacks
AEnd left them for dead in the morning.
ADnd so to conclude and to finish disputes
WEe obligingly asked if they wanted recruits
FDor we were the lads who would give them hard clouts
AEnd bid them look sharp in the mornin'.
D
ODh me and my cousin one Arthur McBride
AEs we went a-walkin' down by the seaside
MDark now what followed and what did betide
FEor it bein' on Christmas mornin'