I (C) had a first cousin called (Am) Arthur Mc (C ) Bride,
He and (F) I took a (C) stroll down (G) by the sea (F) side
A (C) seeking good fortune and (Am) what might be (C) tide,
It was just as the (G) day was a (F)dawn (C) ing
Then after resting we (F) went for a (C) tramp,
We (F) met Sergeant (C) Harper and (G) Corporal (F)Cramp
Be (C) sides a wee drummer who (Am) beat up for (C) camp,
With his rowdy dow (G) dow in the (C) morning

He says my young fellas if you will enlist
A guinea I quickly will slip in your fist
Besides a crown for to kick off the dust
And drink the King's health in the morning
Had we been such fools as to take the advance
For a wee bit of money we'd a had to run chance
For you'd think he'd no scruples to send us to France
Where we would be killed in the morning

He says my young fellows if I hear but one word
I instantly now will out with my sword
And into your bodies as strength will afford
So pray my gay devils take warning
But Arthur and I we took on the odds
And we gave them no chance for to launch out their swords
Our whacking shellelaghs came over their heads
And paid them right smart in the morning

As for the wee drummer we rifled his pouch
And we made a football of his rowdy dow dow
And into the ocean to rock and to roll
And bade it a tedious returning
And as for the rapiers that hung by their sides
We flung them as far as we could in the tide
To the devil I pitch you says Arthur McBride
To temper your steel in the morning.