Well me and me cousin one Arthur McBride
He and I took a stroll down by the sea side
now mark what followed and what might be tide
it was just as the day was a dawning
And after restin we both took a tramp
we met Seargeant Harper and Corporal Cramp
besides the wee drummer who intending to camp
with his rowdy dou dou in the morning

He said my young fellows, if you will enlist
its ten guineas in gold I will slip in your fist
and besides a crown for to kick up the dust
and drink the King's health in the morning
For a soldier, he leads a very fine life.
He always is blest with a charming young wife
And he pays all his debts without sorrow or strife,
And always lives happy and charming
And a soldier is always is decent and clean,
In the finest of clothes he is constantly seen,
While other poor devils go 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 and I suppose,
U dare not change them one night for U know
If u do u'll be flogged without warning
And we have no desire to take ur advance,
all hazards and dangers U bar to run chance
For u would have no scruples but to send us to France
Where we would be shot without warning.

Well now said the sergeant, I'll have no such chat
And I neither will take it from spailpin nor brat
For if U insult me with 1 other word,
I'll cut off ur heads without warning

but Arthur and I we soon took the odds
and we gave them no chance for to launch out their swords
our wacking shillelaghs came over their heads
and paid them right smart in the morning

As for the wee drummer we rifled his pouch
and we made a football of his rowdy dou dou
and into the ocean for to rock and to roll
And barring its tedious returning
As for the ould rapier that hung by his side
we flung it as far as we could in the tide
To the divil I pitch you says Arthur McBride
To temper your steel in the morning.