Arthur McBride and the Sergeant Songtext
von Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick

I once knew a fellow called Arthur McBryde
And his pleasure was walking down by the seaside
A-walking, a-talking, a-viewing the tide
And the weather was pleasant and charming

So gay and so gallant we went on our tramp
We met Sergeant Arbour and Corporal Cramp
And the bonny little drummer who roused up the camp
With his rowdy-dow-dow in the morning

"What are me good fellows?" the sergeant did cry
"The same to you, sergeant," we made to reply
There was nothing more said and we made to pass by
All on that bright summer′s morning


"What are me good fellows if you would enlist?
Ten guineas in gold I would slap in your fist
And a crown in the bargain to kick up the dust
And to drink the King's health in the morning"

"Oh no, me good sergeant, we are not for sale
Though we′re fond of our country, your bribes won't avail
Though we're fond of our country, we came not to sail
For we are the boys of the morning"

"If you would insult me without any word
I swear by me King I would draw me broadsword
And I′d run through your body as strength me affords
Ere I could breathe out the morning"

Well, we laid the little drummer as flat as a shoe
We made a football of his rowdy-dow-do
The sergeant, the corporal, we knocked out the two
For we were the boys of the morning


And as for the weapons that hung by their side
We flung them as far as we could in the tide
"And the Devil go with you," says Arthur McBryde
"For spoiling our walk in the morning"