I had a first cousin called Arthur McBride
He and I took a stroll down by the by the sea side
A seeking good fortune and what might be tide
‘Twas just as the day was a dawning
As Arthur and I we both took a tramp
We met Sergeant Harper and Corporal Cramp
Besides the wee drummer who beat up for camp
With his rowdy dow-dow in the morning
He says me young fellows if you will enlist
a guinea in gold you shall have in your fist
besides a crown for to kick up the dust
and drink the Queen’s health in the morning
Had we been such fools as to take the advance
The wee bit of morning we had to run chance
For you think it no scruple to send us to France
Where we would be killed in the morning
Oh no, mister sergeant we aren’t for sale
We don’t want your bargain, your bribe’s on the fail
We both love this country, and we don’t wish to sail
For Europa so pleasant and charming
If we were such fools as to take the advance
This right bloody slander wouldn’t be for our chance
For the Queen wouldn’t scruple to send us to France
Where we would be killed in the morning
He says me young fellows if I hear but one word
I instantly now will out with my sword
And into your body as strength will afford
So now my good fellows take warning
But Arthur and I we took in the odds
We gave them no chance for to launch out their swords
Our lucky shillelaghs came over their heads
And paid them right smart in the morning
As for the wee drummer we rifled his pouch
And we made a foot-ball of his rowdy dow-dow
And into the ocean to rock and to roll
And bade it a tedious returning
As for the weapons that hung by his side
We flung them as far as we could in tide
To devil I pitch you says Arthur McBride
And continued his walk in the morning