Lyr Add: Lots of Little Soldiers (Matt McGinn)

Subject: From the General to little soldiers
From: allanwill
Date: 04 May 02 - 11:52 AM

This is a continuation of the Major General Worthington thread, or more specifically the Barry Dransfield album from whence it came.

Thanks to Les for providing the lyrics for "the General" and I thought I'd reciprocate by writing down another song from the album.

LOTS OF LITTLE SOLDIERS

Words by Matt McGinn
Tune traditional - The Little Beggarman

My name is what-you-call-me
and my fathers was as well.
Of a little game he taught me
now the story I will tell.
We had lots of little soldiers
and as sure as the day would come
I sent them into battle
with a rattle of my drum

(chorus)

I put them on the table
and I marched them all around
then I battered them with cannonballs
and watched them falling down.
I had lots of little crosses
that I laid upon the dead
Then I patched up all the wounded
and I sent them home to bed.

I went round and asked the neighbours
for a penny or a dime
to help me buy some soldiers
just to help me pass the time.
They were always very kindly
in supplying me with guns
and some of them even let me play
at soldiers with their sons.

Whenever I went to the shop
to buy my guns and tanks
The man there always smiled and patted
my head and whispered "Thanks.
If it wasn't for your soldier game
I don't know what I'd do.
You keep my business busy, son,
so here's an extra few.

One day I bought some aeroplanes
but here is what I found:
when I sent them in with bombs to help
my army on the ground,
they bombed up every soldier there
and proved a sorrowful flop -
I had to buy another hundred
crosses from the shop.

I would very much have liked to teach
this little game of guns
to my seven beautiful daughters
and my fourteen lovely sons.
But the man in the shop, he gave me down
a bomb from off the shelf.
It blew up every soldier, all my
neighbours and myself.
Allan

Subject: RE: From the General to little soldiers
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 04 May 02 - 12:27 PM

Good grief......I missed the General Worthington thread, but though that song might have struck a chord, I dont remember it.

THIS song I remember though, from Les playing me the album what must be 20 or 25 years ago....probably the ONLY time I can recall hearing this song.