Arthur McBrideA seeking good fortune and what might betide, 'twas just as the day was a dawning Then after resting 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 my young fellow if you will enlist a Guinea you quickly shall have in your fist Besides a Crown for to kick up the dust and drink the King's health in the morning Had we been such fools as to take the advance the wee bitter morning we had to run chance For you'd think it no scruple to send us to France where we would be killed in the morning He says "My young fellows if I hear but one word I instantly now will out with my sword And into your bodies as strength will afford so now my gay devils take warning" But Arthur and I we took in the odds we gave them no chance to lunge out their swords Our whacking Shelelaghs came over their heads and paid them right smart in the morning As for the we drummer we rifled his pouch and we made a football of his rowdy dow dow And into the ocean to rock and to row and bade him a tedious returning As for the old rapier that hung by his side we flung it as far as we could in the tide "To the devil I bid you" says Arthur Mc Bride "to temper your steel in the morning" |