The Recruiting Sergeant Songtext

As I was walkin' down the street, Feelin' nice and larky-oh A recruiting sergeant said to me, You'd look nice in khaki-oh, The King he is in need of men, Just read the proclamation-oh A life in Flanders for you Then would be a nice vacation-oh, That maybe true sais I to him But tell me sergeant deary-oh If I had a pack struck on me back Would I look nice and cheery-oh For you'd make me drill and train all night By sleepin on four benches-oh It may be warm in Flanders But it is draughty in the trenches-oh The sergeant twirled his little cane His smile was so provokin' oh He twiddled and twirled his wee moustache He said I hope you're jokin' oh, For the sandbags are so nice and high The wind you won't feel blowin' I waved to a colleen passin' by I said what if it's snowing-oh Come rain or hail nor wind or snow Well I'm not goin' to Flanders oh There's work for me in Dublin Let your sergeants and commanders go, Let englishmen for England fight It's nearly time they started oh, I waved the sergeant a nice goodbye And there and then we parted oh I waved the sergeant a nice goodbye And there and then we parted oh