Barrack-Room Ballads

<p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"></SPAN></p> <br/> <h2> Troopin' </h2> <p>(Our Army in the East)<br/> <br/> Troopin', troopin', troopin' to the sea:<br/> 'Ere's September come again&mdash;the six-year men are free.<br/> O leave the dead be'ind us, for they cannot come away<br/> To where the ship's a-coalin' up that takes us 'ome to-day.<br/> We're goin' 'ome, we're goin' 'ome,<br/> Our ship is at the shore,<br/> An' you must pack your 'aversack,<br/> For we won't come back no more.<br/> Ho, don't you grieve for me,<br/> My lovely Mary-Ann,<br/> For I'll marry you yit on a fourp'ny bit<br/> As a time-expired man.<br/> <br/> The Malabar's in 'arbour with the Jumner at 'er tail,<br/> An' the time-expired's waitin' of 'is orders for to sail.<br/> Ho! the weary waitin' when on Khyber 'ills we lay,<br/> But the time-expired's waitin' of 'is orders 'ome to-day.<br/> <br/> They'll turn us out at Portsmouth wharf in cold an' wet an' rain,<br/> All wearin' Injian cotton kit, but we will not complain;<br/> They'll kill us of pneumonia&mdash;for that's their little way&mdash;<br/> But damn the chills and fever, men, we're goin' 'ome to-day!<br/> <br/> Troopin', troopin', winter's round again!<br/> See the new draf's pourin' in for the old campaign;<br/> Ho, you poor recruities, but you've got to earn your pay&mdash;<br/> What's the last from Lunnon, lads? We're goin' there to-day.<br/> <br/> Troopin', troopin', give another cheer&mdash;<br/> 'Ere's to English women an' a quart of English beer.<br/> The Colonel an' the regiment an' all who've got to stay,<br/> Gawd's mercy strike 'em gentle&mdash;Whoop! we're goin' 'ome to-day.<br/> We're goin' 'ome, we're goin' 'ome,<br/> Our ship is at the shore,<br/> An' you must pack your 'aversack,<br/> For we won't come back no more.<br/> Ho, don't you grieve for me,<br/> My lovely Mary-Ann,<br/> For I'll marry you yit on a fourp'ny bit<br/> As a time-expired man.<br/></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />