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<br/>
<h2> 'Back to the Army Again' </h2>
<p>I'm 'ere in a ticky ulster an' a broken billycock 'at,<br/>
A-layin' on to the sergeant I don't know a gun from a bat;<br/>
My shirt's doin' duty for jacket, my sock's stickin' out o' my boots,<br/>
An' I'm learnin' the damned old goose-step along o' the new recruits!<br/>
<br/>
Back to the Army again, sergeant,<br/>
Back to the Army again.<br/>
Don't look so 'ard, for I 'aven't no card,<br/>
I'm back to the Army again!<br/>
<br/>
I done my six years' service. 'Er Majesty sez: “Good-day—<br/>
You'll please to come when you're rung for, an' 'ere's your 'ole back-pay;<br/>
An' fourpence a day for baccy—an' bloomin' gen'rous, too;<br/>
An' now you can make your fortune—the same as your orf'cers do.”<br/>
<br/>
Back to the Army again, sergeant,<br/>
Back to the Army again;<br/>
'Ow did I learn to do right-about turn?<br/>
I'm back to the Army again!<br/>
<br/>
A man o' four-an'-twenty that 'asn't learned of a trade—<br/>
Beside “Reserve” agin' him—'e'd better be never made.<br/>
I tried my luck for a quarter, an' that was enough for me,<br/>
An' I thought of 'Er Majesty's barricks, an' I thought I'd go an' see.<br/>
<br/>
Back to the Army again, sergeant,<br/>
Back to the Army again;<br/>
'Tisn't my fault if I dress when I 'alt—<br/>
I'm back to the Army again!<br/>
<br/>
The sergeant arst no questions, but 'e winked the other eye,<br/>
'E sez to me, “'Shun!” an' I shunted, the same as in days gone by;<br/>
For 'e saw the set o' my shoulders, an' I couldn't 'elp 'oldin' straight<br/>
When me an' the other rookies come under the barrick-gate.<br/>
<br/>
Back to the Army again, sergeant,<br/>
Back to the Army again;<br/>
'Oo would ha' thought I could carry an' port?<br/>
I'm back to the Army again!<br/>
<br/>
I took my bath, an' I wallered—for, Gawd, I needed it so!<br/>
I smelt the smell o' the barricks, I 'eard the bugles go.<br/>
I 'eard the feet on the gravel—the feet o' the men what drill—<br/>
An' I sez to my flutterin' 'eart-strings, I sez to 'em, “Peace, be still!”<br/>
<br/>
Back to the Army again, sergeant,<br/>
Back to the Army again;<br/>
'Oo said I knew when the Jumner was due?<br/>
I'm back to the Army again!<br/>
<br/>
I carried my slops to the tailor; I sez to 'im, “None o' your lip!<br/>
You tight 'em over the shoulders, an' loose 'em over the 'ip,<br/>
For the set o' the tunic's 'orrid.” An' 'e sez to me, “Strike me dead,<br/>
But I thought you was used to the business!” an' so 'e done what I said.<br/>
<br/>
Back to the Army again, sergeant,<br/>
Back to the Army again.<br/>
Rather too free with my fancies? Wot—me?<br/>
I'm back to the Army again!<br/>
<br/>
Next week I'll 'ave 'em fitted; I'll buy me a swagger-cane;<br/>
They'll let me free o' the barricks to walk on the Hoe again<br/>
In the name o' William Parsons, that used to be Edward Clay,<br/>
An'—any pore beggar that wants it can draw my fourpence a day!<br/>
<br/>
Back to the Army again, sergeant,<br/>
Back to the Army again:<br/>
Out o' the cold an' the rain, sergeant,<br/>
Out o' the cold an' the rain.<br/>
<br/>
'Oo's there?<br/>
A man that's too good to be lost you,<br/>
A man that is 'andled an' made—<br/>
A man that will pay what 'e cost you<br/>
In learnin' the others their trade—parade!<br/>
You're droppin' the pick o' the Army<br/>
Because you don't 'elp 'em remain,<br/>
But drives 'em to cheat to get out o' the street<br/>
An' back to the Army again!<br/></p>
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