Troopin'
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Our Army in the East) Troopin', troopin', troopin' to the sea:'Ere's September come again--the six-year men are free.O leave the dead be'ind us, for they cannot come awayTo where the ship's a-coalin' up that takes us 'ome to-day.We're goin' 'ome, we're goin' 'ome,Our ship is at the shore,An' you must pack your 'aversack,For we won't come back no more.Ho, don't you grieve for me,My lovely Mary-Ann,For I'll marry you yit on a fourp'ny bitAs a time-expired man. The Malabar's in 'arbour with the Jumner at 'er tail,An' the time-expired's waitin' of 'is orders for to sail.Ho! the weary waitin' when on Khyber 'ills we lay,But the time-expired's waitin' of 'is orders 'ome to-day. They'll turn us out at Portsmouth wharf in cold an' wet an' rain,All wearin' Injian cotton kit, but we will not complain;They'll kill us of pneumonia--for that's their little way--But damn the chills and fever, men, we're goin' 'ome to-day! Troopin', troopin', winter's round again!See the new draf's pourin' in for the old campaign;Ho, you poor recruities, but you've got to earn your pay--What's the last from Lunnon, lads? We're goin' there to-day. Troopin', troopin', give another cheer--'Ere's to English women an' a quart of English beer.The Colonel an' the regiment an' all who've got to stay,Gawd's mercy strike 'em gentle--Whoop! we're goin' 'ome to-day.We're goin' 'ome, we're goin' 'ome,Our ship is at the shore,An' you must pack your 'aversack,For we won't come back no more.Ho, don't you grieve for me,My lovely Mary-Ann,For I'll marry you yit on a fourp'ny bitAs a time-expired man.
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