Seamus O'Farrell, 'The Recruiting Sergeant'

[duathir.livejournal.com]

The Recruiting Sergeant

As I was walking down the road a feeling fine and larky oh
A recruiting sergeant come up to me, says he "you'd look fine in khaki oh
For the King he is in need of men, come read this proclamation oh
A life in Flanders for you then, 't would be a fine vacation oh"

"That may be so" says I to him "but tell me Sergeant deary-oh
if I had a pack stuck upon me back would I look fine and cheery-oh
For they'd have you train and drill until they had you one of Frenchies
oh it may be warm in Flanders but it's draughty in the trenches oh"

The sergeant smiled and winked his eye, his smile was most provoking oh
he twiddled and twirled his wee moustache, says he "You're only joking oh
for the sandbags are so warm and high the wind you won't feel blowing oh
well I winked at a caitlin passing by, says I, "What if it's snowing oh"

Come rain or hail or wind or snow I'm not going out to Flanders oh
There's fighting in Dublin to be done, let your sergeants and your commanders go
Let Englishmen fight English wars, it's nearly time they started oh
I saluted the sergeant a very good night, there and then we parted oh

by Seamus O'Farrell

http://youtu.be/1RXfmLQejrg