Bob Dylan - Arthur McBride lyrics
[Bob Dylan - Arthur McBride lyrics]
Oh, me and my cousin, one Arthur McBride
As we went a-walking down by the seaside
Now mark what followed and what did betide
For it being on Christmas morning
Now, for recreation, we went on a tramp
And we met Sergeant Napper and Corporal Vamp
And a little wee drummer intending to camp
For the day being pleasant and charming
"Good morning, good morning
" the Sergeant he cried
"And the same to you, gentlemen
" we did reply
Intending no harm but meant to pass by
For it being on Christmas morning
"But, " says he, "My fine fellows
If you will enlist
Ten guineas in gold I'll stick in your fist
And a crown in the bargain for
To kick up the dust
And drink the king's health in the morning
For a soldier, he leads a very fine life
And he always is blessed with
A charming young wife
And he pays all his debts
Without sorrow or strife
And he always lives pleasant and charming
And a soldier, he always is decent and clean
In the finest of clothing
He's constantly seen
While other poor fellows 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
As I suppose
But, you dare not change them one night
For you know
If you do, you'll be flogged in the morning
And although that we're single and free
We take great delight in our own company
We have no desire strange places to see
Although that your offers are charming
And we have no desire to take your advance
All hazards and dangers we barter on chance
For you'd have no scruples for
To send us to France
Where we would get shot without warning"
"Oh, no
" says the Sergeant "I'll have no such chat
And neither will I take it
From snappy young brats
For if you insult me with one other word
I'll cut off your heads in the morning"
And Arthur and I, we soon drew our hogs
And we scarce gave them time
To draw their own blades
When a trusty shillelagh came over their head
And bid them take that as fair warning
And their old rusty rapiers that
Hung by their sides
We flung them as far as we could in the tide
"Now take them up
Devils!" cried Arthur McBride
"And temper their edge in the morning!"
And the little wee drummer
We flattened his bow
And we made a football of his rowdy dow dow
Threw it in the tide for to rock and to roll
And bade it a tedious returning
And we having no money
Paid them off in cracks
We paid no respect to their two bloody backs
And we lathered them there like
A pair of wet sacks
And left them for dead in the morning
And so, to conclude and to finish disputes
We obligingly asked if they wanted recruit's
For we were the lads who
Would give them hard clouts
And bid them look sharp in the morning
Oh, me and my cousin, one Arthur McBride
As we went a-walking down by the seaside
Now mark what followed and what did betide
For it being on Christmas morning
As we went a-walking down by the seaside
Now mark what followed and what did betide
For it being on Christmas morning
Now, for recreation, we went on a tramp
And we met Sergeant Napper and Corporal Vamp
And a little wee drummer intending to camp
For the day being pleasant and charming
"Good morning, good morning
" the Sergeant he cried
"And the same to you, gentlemen
" we did reply
Intending no harm but meant to pass by
For it being on Christmas morning
"But, " says he, "My fine fellows
If you will enlist
Ten guineas in gold I'll stick in your fist
And a crown in the bargain for
To kick up the dust
And drink the king's health in the morning
For a soldier, he leads a very fine life
And he always is blessed with
A charming young wife
And he pays all his debts
Without sorrow or strife
And he always lives pleasant and charming
And a soldier, he always is decent and clean
In the finest of clothing
He's constantly seen
While other poor fellows 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
As I suppose
But, you dare not change them one night
For you know
If you do, you'll be flogged in the morning
And although that we're single and free
We take great delight in our own company
We have no desire strange places to see
Although that your offers are charming
And we have no desire to take your advance
All hazards and dangers we barter on chance
For you'd have no scruples for
To send us to France
Where we would get shot without warning"
"Oh, no
" says the Sergeant "I'll have no such chat
And neither will I take it
From snappy young brats
For if you insult me with one other word
I'll cut off your heads in the morning"
And Arthur and I, we soon drew our hogs
And we scarce gave them time
To draw their own blades
When a trusty shillelagh came over their head
And bid them take that as fair warning
And their old rusty rapiers that
Hung by their sides
We flung them as far as we could in the tide
"Now take them up
Devils!" cried Arthur McBride
"And temper their edge in the morning!"
And the little wee drummer
We flattened his bow
And we made a football of his rowdy dow dow
Threw it in the tide for to rock and to roll
And bade it a tedious returning
And we having no money
Paid them off in cracks
We paid no respect to their two bloody backs
And we lathered them there like
A pair of wet sacks
And left them for dead in the morning
And so, to conclude and to finish disputes
We obligingly asked if they wanted recruit's
For we were the lads who
Would give them hard clouts
And bid them look sharp in the morning
Oh, me and my cousin, one Arthur McBride
As we went a-walking down by the seaside
Now mark what followed and what did betide
For it being on Christmas morning