The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #137261   Message #3362249
Posted By: Jim Dixon
11-Jun-12 - 06:10 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Songs sung by Leslie Sarony
Subject: Lyr Add: BUNKEY-DOODLE-I-DOH (from Albert Whelan)
The University of Virginia has the sheet music. The following information is from their catalog:

BUNKEY-DOODLE-I-DOH
Written by Leslie Sarony
London: Lawrence Wright Music Co., ©1929

I couldn't find an online recording by Leslie Sarony. I transcribed the following lyrics from a recording by Albert Whelan found at YouTube:

There was a little soldier who was going off to war.
He said, "I know what I'll do when I hear the cannons roar."
The sergeant had him on parade; the soldier's not to blame.
He went and stuck his bayonet in the sergeant's what's-'er-name.

Bunkey-doodle-i-doh!
Sergeant McGinty busted.
Bunkey-doodle-i-doh!
Gather up all the beets.

He went to see 'em change the guard and said to Captain Squirt:
"You don't know how to change the guard; you couldn't change your shirt."
He saw a pretty lady 'ome; he'd just come from a dance.
A bulldog flew at him and bit a lump out of his pants.

Bunkey-doodle-i-doh!
He said, "It's getting draughty."
Bunkey-doodle-i-doh!
Where do we go from 'ere?

I sang this little ditty to the natives of Madrid.
I then sang "Put Me in My Little Bed" and so they did.

Bunkey-doodle-i-doh!
Somebody threw tomatoes.
Bunkey-doodle-i-doh!
Didn't remove the tin.

He said, "If I can't fight, I'll run;" his ruin was complete.
The enemy surrounded him and cut off his retreat.

Bunkey-doodle-i-doh!
When he got home to Blighty,
Bunkey-doodle-i-doh!
What did he tell his wife?

That soldier boy has had his day.
He's getting old and very grey.
He's just begun to fade away.
Old soldiers never die.

[There is also a recording by Jack Hylton and his Orchestra which seems to have a few more verses, but the recording was less distinct, so I didn't attempt to transcribe the lyrics.]