T TROOPIN' (Our Army in the East) ROOPIN', troopin', troopin' to the sea: 'Ere's September come again-the six-year men are free. O leave the dead be'ind us, for they cannot come away To where the ship's a-coalin' up that takes us 'ome to day. We're goin' 'ome, we're goin' 'ome, Our ship is at the shore, An' you must pack your 'aversack, For we won't come back no more. Ho, don't you grieve for me, My lovely Mary-Ann, For I'll marry you yit on a fourp'ny bit · The Malabar's in 'arbour with the Jumner at 'er tail, An' the time-expired's waitin' of 'is orders for to sail. Ho! the weary waitin' when on Khyber 'ills we lay, But the time-expired's waitin' of 'is orders 'ome to-day. They'll turn us out at Portsmouth wharf in cold an' wet an' rain, All wearin' Injian cotton kit, but we will not complain; TROOPIN' They'll kill us of pneumonia-for that's their little way— But damn the chills and fever, men, we're goin' 'ome to-day! Troopin', troopin', winter's round again! See the new draf's pourin' in for the old campaign; Ho, you poor recruities, but you've got to earn your pay What's the last from Lunnon, lads? We're goin' there to-day. Troopin', troopin', give another cheer 'Ere's to English women an' a quart of English beer. The Colonel an' the regiment an' all who've got to stay, Gawd's mercy strike 'em gentle-Whoop! we're goin' 'ome to-day. We're goin' 'ome, we're goin' 'ome, Our ship is at the shore, An' you must pack your 'aversack, Ho, don't you grieve for me, My lovely Mary-Ann, For I'll marry you yit on a fourp'ny bit THE WIDOW'S PARTY HERE have you been this while away, Out with the rest on a picnic lay, They called us out of the barrack-yard (Bugle: Ta-rara-ra-ra-rara!) 'What did you get to eat and drink, Johnnie, Johnnie?' Standing water as thick as ink, Johnnie, my Johnnie, aha! A bit o' beef that were three year stored, 'What did you do for knives and forks, We carries 'em with us wherever we walks, And some was sliced and some was halved, THE WIDOW'S PARTY 'What ha' you done with half your mess, Johnnie, Johnnie?' They couldn't do more and they wouldn't do less, Johnnie, my Johnnie, aha! They ate their whack and they drank their fill, And I think the rations has made them ill, For half my comp'ny's lying still Where the Widow give the party 'How did you get away-away, On the broad o' my back at the end o' the day, 'What was the end of all the show, Ask my Colonel, for I don't know, We broke a King and we built a road A court-house stands where the reg'ment goed. And the river's clean where the raw blood flowed When the Widow give the party. (Bugle: Ta-rara—ra-ra-rara!) FORD O' KABUL RIVER ABUL town's by Kabul river- Wet an' drippin' by the ford. Ford, ford, ford o' Kabul river, There's the river up and brimmin', an' there's 'arf a squadron swimmin' 'Cross the ford o' Kabul river in the dark. Wet an' drippin' by the ford! Keep the crossing-stakes beside you, an' they will surely guide you 'Cross the ford of Kabul river in the dark. Kabul town is sun and dust Blow the bugle, draw the sword I'd ha' sooner drownded fust 'Stead of 'im beside the ford. Ford, ford, ford o' Kabul river, |