I had a first cousin called Arthur McBride and we went a-walking down by the seaside Seeking good fortune and what might betide for it being on Christmas morning
For recreation we went on a tramp where we met Sergeant Harper and Corporal Crump And a little wee drummer intending to camp for the day being pleasant and charming \"Good morning, good morning\" the sergeant did cry \"And the same to you gentlemen\" we did reply Intending no harm, we made to pass by For it being on Christmas mornin'
Says he, \"My fine fellows, if you will enlist it's ten guineas I quickly will shove in your fist And a crown in the bargain to kick off the dust and to drink the king's health in the morning For a soldier he leads a very fine life and he 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 he 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 that 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 And we have no desire to take your advance of hazards and dangers we'll barter our chance For you have no scruples and will send us to France where we'll surely be shot without warning
Oh now, says the sergeant, if I hear one more word I instantly then will draw out 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 lunge out their swords Our trusty shillaleahs come over their heads and bade them take that as fair warning
As for the wee drummer, we rifled his pouch We made a football of his rowdy-dow-dow Threw it in the tide for 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
I had a first cousin called Arthur McBride and we went a-walking down by the seaside Seeking good fortune and what might betide For it being on Christmas morning.