Well, as I went waalking down the road

Feeling fine and larky oh;

A recruiting Sergeant came to me:

“Faith, you’d look good in Khaki-o.’

For the Queen she (King he) is in need of men

Come read this Proclamation -o

A life for you in Transvaal (Flanders) fields

Would make a fine vocation -o

 

Oh Sgt dear says I to him

I think your life is dreary-o

If I had a pack stuck on my back

Would I look fine and cheery-o?

For you’d make me drill and train until

You had made me Gen Frenchs-o.

AFor it may be warm in Transvaal fields,

But its draughty down the trenches-o.

 

Well, the Sgt-Major, he stood there

His smile was most provoking-o

As he turned and twisted his little moustache

Says he I hope you’re joking-o.

For the sandbags are built so high

The wind you’ll not feel blowing-o

Oh Sgt dear says I to him

Suppose that it is snowing -o.

 

Come wind or hail, rain or snow

I’ll not go down to Transvaal (aFlandrs) -o

For there’s courtin in Dublin to be done,

Let your Sgts and commanders go.

Let Englishmen for England fight

It’s damn near time they started-o

And I winked at a colleen passing by

And there and then dparted-o

 

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     I recorded this song from Brad Tate, of the Channons, NSW, but Jimmy Duffy of Stanthorpe confirmed that this song was sung by Boer War vets as well as survivors of WWI, despite the afact that it is an anti-war song--who better to sing the anti-war songs than someone who has been there--or know that they are going? Still, they go, because there is the need for someone to sacrifice for others.

     Duriang the Vietnam War protesters said that soldiers were making a profit for industrialists-maybe so, its making a profit for someone else, WE, the soldiers, made no profit from andy war: those that stayed at home made their profits out of higher employment ande greater wages over the bodies of the dead soldiers as well--plus whatever personal profits--my protester brother said protesting the war was ‘A great way to score chicks’--I wouldn’t know.