Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger - The Trooper Cut Down in His Prime lyrics

As I was a-walkin' down by the Royal Arsenal
Early the morning though 'warm was the day
When who should I see but one of my comrades
All wrapped up in flannel and
Cold as the clay

Then beat the drum lowly and
Play your fife slowly
And sound the dead march as
You carry me along
And fire your bundooks right over my coffin
For I'm a young trooper cut down in my prime

The bugles were playin' his
Mates were a-prayin'
The chaplain was kneelin' down by his bed
His poor head was achin'
His poor heart was breakin'
This poor young trooper cut down in his prime

Then beat the drum lowly and
Play your fife slowly
And sound the dead march as
You carry me along
And fire your bundooks right over my coffin
For I'm a young trooper cut down in my prime

Get six of my comrades to carry my coffin
Six of my comrades to carry me on high
And six young maidens to carry white roses
So they won't smell me as they pass me by

Then beat the drum slowly and
Play your fife slowly
And sound the dead march as
You carry me along
And fire your bundooks right over my coffin
For I'm a young trooper cut down in my prime

Outside of the barracks you will
Find two girls standin'
And one to the other she whispered and said
"Here comes the young swaddy
Whose money we squandered
Here comes the young trooper cut
Down in his prime"

Then beat the drum slowly and
Play your fife slowly
And sound the dead march as
You carry me along
And fire your bundooks right over my coffin
For I'm a young trooper cut down in my prime

On the cross by his grave you
Will find these words written
"All you young troopers take warnin' by me
Keep away from them flash girls
Who walk in the city
Flash girls of the city have quite ruined me"

Then beat the drum slowly and
Play your fife slowly
And sound the dead march as
You carry me along
And fire your bundooks right over my coffin
For I'm a young trooper cut down in my prime