The Seven Seas

THAT DAY.

IT got beyond all orders an' it got beyond

all 'ope;

It got to shammin' wounded an' retirin' from

the 'alt.

'Ole companies was lookin' for the nearest road to

slope;

It were just a bloomin' knock-out-an' our fault!

Now there ain't no chorus 'ere to give,

Nor there ain't no band to play ;

An' I wish I was dead 'fore I done what I did Or seen what I seed that day!

We was sick o' bein' punished, an' we let 'em know it, too;

An' a company-commander up an' 'it us with a sword,

An' some one shouted "Ook it!" an' it come to

sove-ki-poo,

An' we chucked our rifles from us-oh, my Gawd!

There was thirty dead an' wounded on the ground we wouldn't keep

No, there wasn't more than twenty when the front begun to go;

But, Christ! along the line o' flight they cut us up like sheep,

An' that was all we gained by doin' so.

I'eard the knives be'ind me, but I dursn't face my man,

An' I don't know where I went to, 'cause I

didn't 'alt to see,

Till I'eard a beggar squealin' out for quarter as 'e

ran,

An' I thought I knew the voice an'-it was me!

We was 'idin' under bedsteads more than 'arf a

march away;

We was lyin' up like rabbits all about the country side;

An' the major cursed 'is Maker 'cause 'e lived to see that day,

An' the colonel broke 'is sword acrost, an'

cried.

We was rotten 'fore we started-we was never

disciplined;

We made it out a favour if an order was

obeyed;

Yes, every little drummer 'ad 'is rights an' wrongs

to mind,

So we had to pay for teachin'-an' we paid!

The papers 'id it 'andsome, but you know the Army knows;

We was put to groomin' camels till the regiments withdrew,

An' they give us each a medal for subduin' England's foes,

An' I 'ope you like my song-because it's true!

An' there ain't no chorus 'ere to give,

Nor there ain't no band to play;

But I wish I was dead 'fore I done what I did

Or seen what I seed that day!

"THE MEN THAT FOUGHT AT MINDEN."

A SONG OF INSTRUCTION.

THE men that fought at Minden, they was rookies in their time

So was them that fought at Waterloo!

All the 'ole command, yuss, from Minden to Maiwand,

They was once dam' sweeps like you!

Then do not be discouraged, 'Eaven is your 'elper,

We'll learn you not to forget;

An' you mustn't swear an' curse, or you'll only

catch it worse,

For we'll make you soldiers yet.

The men that fought at Minden, they 'ad stocks beneath their chins,

Six inch 'igh an' more;