[00:46.685]Oh, me and my cousin, one Arthur McBride
[00:51.210]As we went a-walking down by the seaside
[00:55.721]Now, mark what followed and what did betide
[00:59.707]For it being on Christmas morning
[01:04.220]
[01:05.019]Out for recreation, we went on a tramp
[01:09.267]And we met Sergeant Napper and Corporal Vamp
[01:13.790]And a little wee drummer, intending to camp
[01:18.038]For the day being pleasant and charming
[01:24.679]
[01:26.800]"Good morning, good morning!", the sergeant did cry
[01:30.514]"And the same to you, gentlemen!", we did reply
[01:35.573]Intending no harm but meant to pass by
[01:39.820]For it being on Christmas morning
[01:44.333]
[01:44.868]But says he, "My fine fellows if you will enlist
[01:48.845]It's ten guineas in gold I will slip in your fist
[01:53.629]And a crown in the bargain for to kick up the dust
[01:57.879]And drink the King's health in the morning"
[02:03.986]
[02:04.258]"For a soldier he leads a very fine life
[02:08.509]And he always is blessed with a charming young wife
[02:13.020]And he pays all his debts without sorrow or strife
[02:17.008]And always lives pleasant and charming"
[02:21.792]
[02:22.314]"And a soldier he always is decent and clean
[02:26.039]In the finest of clothing he's constantly seen
[02:31.089]While other poor fellows go dirty and mean
[02:35.599]And sup on thin gruel in the morning"
[02:42.979]
[03:19.907]"But", says Arthur, "I wouldn't be proud of your clothes
[03:24.154]For you've only the lend of them as I suppose
[03:29.203]And you dare not change them one night, for you know
[03:33.451]If you do you'll be flogged in the morning"
[03:37.702]
[03:37.962]"And although that we are single and free
[03:42.222]We take great delight in our own company
[03:46.999]And we have no desire strange faces to see
[03:51.519]Although that your offers are charming"
[03:57.091]
[03:57.355]"And we have no desire to take your advance
[04:01.614]All hazards and dangers we barter on chance
[04:06.661]For you would have no scruples for to send us to France
[04:10.911]Where we would get shot without warning"
[04:16.755]
[04:19.932]"Oh now!", says the sergeant, "I'll have no such chat
[04:23.397]And I neither will take it from spalpeen or brat
[04:27.909]For if you insult me with one other word
[04:32.420]I'll cut off your heads in the morning"
[04:36.942]
[04:37.466]And then Arthur and I we soon drew our hods
[04:41.718]And we scarce gave them time for to draw their own blades
[04:46.764]When a trusty shillelagh came over their heads
[04:51.287]And bade them take that as fair warning
[04:56.858]
[04:57.391]And their old rusty rapiers that hung by their side
[05:01.378]We flung them as far as we could in the tide
[05:06.428]"Now take them out, Divils!", cried Arthur McBride
[05:10.937]"And temper their edge in the morning"
[05:14.926]
[05:15.460]And the little wee drummer we flattened his pow
[05:19.973]And we made a football of his rowdeydowdow
[05:25.018]Threw it in the tide for to rock and to row
[05:29.802]And bade it a tedious returning
[05:34.315]
[05:34.852]And we having no money, paid them off in cracks
[05:39.625]And we paid no respect to their two bloody backs
[05:44.149]For we lathered them there like a pair of wet sacks
[05:49.195]And left them for dead in the morning
[05:52.909]
[05:53.706]And so to conclude and to finish disputes
[05:57.955]We obligingly asked if they wanted recruits
[06:03.264]For we were the lads who would give them hard clouts
[06:07.524]And bid them look sharp in the morning
[06:34.617]
[06:34.877]Oh me and my cousin, one Arthur McBride
[06:39.402]As we went a walkin' down by the seaside
[06:44.175]Now mark what followed and what did betide
[06:48.425]For it being on Christmas morning