Bob Dylan - Arthur mc bride

^DOh, me and my cousin, one Arthur McBride, ^EAs we went a-walkin' down by the seaside, ^DMark now what followed and what did betide, ^EFor it bein' on Christmas mornin' ^DNow, for recreation, we went on a tramp, ^EAnd we met Sergeant Napper and Corporal Vamp ^DAnd a little wee drummer intending to camp, ^EFor the day bein' pleasant and charmin'.

^D"Good morning, good morning," the Sergeant he cried. ^E"And the same to you, gentlemen," we did reply, ^DIntending no harm but meant to pass by, ^EFor it bein' on Christmas mornin' ^D"But," says he, "My fine fellows, if you will enlist, ^ETen guineas in gold I'll stick to your fist, ^DAnd a crown in the bargain for to kick up the dust, ^EAnd drink the king's health in the morning.

^D"For a soldier, he leads a very fine life, ^EAnd he always is blessed with a charming young wife, ^DAnd he pays all his debts without sorrow or strife, ^EAnd he always lives pleasant and charmin', ^DAnd a soldier, he always is decent and clean, ^EIn the finest of clothing he's constantly seen. ^DWhile other poor fellows go dirty and mean, ^EAnd sup on thin gruel in the morning." D

^D"But," says Arthur, "I wouldn't be proud of your clothes, ^EFor you've only the lend of them, as I suppose, ^DBut you dare not change them one night, for you know ^EIf you do, you'll be flogged in the morning, ^DAnd although that we're single and free, ^EWe take great delight in our own company, ^DWe have no desire strange places to see, ^EAlthough that your offers are charming. D

^D"And we have no desire to take your advance, ^EAll hazards and dangers we barter on chance, ^DFor you'd have no scruples for to send us to France, ^EWhere we would get shot without warning," ^D"Oh no," says the Sergeant. "I'll have no such chat, ^EAnd neither will I take it from snappy young brats, ^DFor if you insult me with one other word, ^EI'll cut off your heads in the morning."

^DAnd Arthur and I, we soon drew our hogs, ^EAnd we scarce gave them time to draw their own blades ^DWhen a trusty shillelagh came over their head ^EAnd bid them take that as fair warning.

^DAnd their old rusty rapiers that hung by their sides, ^EWe flung them as far as we could in the tide, ^D"Now take them up, devils!" cried Arthur McBride,

^E"And temper their edge in the mornin'!"

^DAnd the little wee drummer, we flattened his bow, ^EAnd we made a football of his rowdy-dow-dow, ^DThrew it in the tide for to rock and to roll, ^EAnd bade it a tedious returning, ^DAnd we havin' no money, paid them off in cracks. ^EWe paid no respect to their two bloody backs, ^DAnd we lathered them there like a pair of wet sacks,

^EAnd left them for dead in the morning.

^DAnd so, to conclude and to finish disputes, ^EWe obligingly asked if they wanted recruits, ^DFor we were the lads who would give them hard clouts E

^DOh, me and my cousin, one Arthur McBride, ^EAs we went a-walkin' down by the seaside, ^DMark now what followed and what did betide, ^EFor it bein' on Christmas mornin'