The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #19708   Message #3937901
Posted By: chrisgl
17-Jul-18 - 09:25 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Down by the station, early in the morning
Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the station, early in the morning
This was known during WW1 as "Call the Roll"
It appears in Tommy's Tunesm pub. 1917, page 88
Tommy's Tunes

Call The Roll
Early in the morning, down at the station,
See the little puff-puffs all in a row;
Man at the engine turns a little handle:
Choo! choo! choo! choo! off they go.

Call the roll, call the roll, call the roll, call the roll,
And we’ll meet you at the cookhouse door.

Early in the morning, on the parade ground,
See the little fatigews† all in a row;
Up comes the sergeant, gives them their orders:
Left, right ! left, right ! off they go.

Call the roll, call the roll, call the roll, call the roll,
And we’ll meet you at the cookhouse door.

Early in the morning, outside the sick tent,
See the little sick boys all in a row;
Up comes the Doctor, gives them each a No. 9‡:
Left, right! left, right! off they go.

Call the roll, call the roll, call the roll, call the roll,
And we’ll meet you at the lathouse¤ door.

† Men detailed for fatigue or routine drudgery.
‡ A pill; an aperient.
¤ Latrines.