This song is traditional in the Canadian Army. I learned it, long before I ever knew it was a very old folk song, as the

Subaltern's Lament


The first thing we asked for, we asked for some beer
Wonderful, glorious, beautiful beer
If we can have one beer, why can't we have ten
Why can't we have a brewery, why can't we have a brewery,
why can't we have a brewery
Is the subaltern's lament

The next thing we asked for, we asked for some booze
Wonderful, glorious, beautiful booze
If we can have one drink, why can't we have ten
Why can't we have a distillery, why can't we have a distillery, why can't we have a distillery,
Is the subaltern's lament

The next thing we asked for, we asked for some girls
Wonderful, glorious, beautiful girls
If we can have one girl, why can't we have ten?
Why can't we have a whorehouse, why can't we have a whorehouse, why can't we have a whorehouse?
Is the subaltern's lament.

A friend of mine once sang the following verse:

The next thing we asked for, we asked for some boys
Wonderful, glorious, beautiful boys
If we can have one boy, why can't we have ten?
Why can't we dock in Frisco, why can't we dock in Frisco, why can't we dock in Frisco?
Is the subaltern's lament.


I learned quite a few other songs, which I now realize were genuine folksongs, but too obscene to share on the Mudcat.
I love Joe F's version. I'm definitely going to learn it.

Edmund