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Arthur McBride

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I had a first cousin called Arthur McBride, he and I took a stroll down by the seaside,

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A-seeking good fortune and what might betide, twas just as the day was a-dawning,

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And then after resting we both took a tramp, we met Sergeant Harper and Corporal Cramp,

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Besides the wee drummer who beat up for camp, with his rowdy-dow-dow in the morning.

Says he, “My fine fellows, if you will enlist, ten guineas I quickly will shove in your fist,
And a crown in the bargain to kick off the dust and drink the king's health in the morning.
For a soldier he leads a very fine life, and always is blessed with a pretty young wife
And he pays all his debts without worry or strife, and always is pleasant and charming.

And a soldier, he always is decent and clean, in the finest of clothes is constantly seen,
While other poor fellows are dirty and mean, and sup on thin gruel in the morning.
But says Arthur, “I wouldn’t, be proud of your clothes, for you’ve only the lend of them, as I suppose,
And you dare not remove them at night for you know, if you do you’ll be flogged in the morning.

And although its true we are single and free, we take great delight in our own company,
And we have no desire strange faces to see, although your offers are charming,
We have no desire to take your advance, of hazards and dangers we’ll barter our chance
For you’ll have no scruples and will send us to France, where we will be killed in the morning.

“Oh now” says the sergeant “if I hear one more word, I instantly then will out with my sword
And run through your bodies as strength can afford, so now you gay devils take warning!”
But Arthur and me we took in the odds and we gave them no chance for to launch out their swords
Our trusty shillaleahs come over their heads, and paid them right smart in the morning.

As for the wee drummer, we rifled his pouch, we made a football of his rowdy-dow-dow
And into the ocean to rock and to roll and bade it a tedious returning
And as for the rapiers that hung at their sides, we flung them as far as would could in the tide
To the devil I bid you, cried Arthur McBride and temper their steel in the morning.

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