Oh hark, the drums do beat my love, I can no longer stay
The bugle horns are sounding clear, and I must march away
We are ordered down to portsmouth, and it’s many’s the weary mile
To join the British army, along the banks of the nile
Oh willie dearest willie, don’t leave me here to mourn
Don’t make me curse and rue the day that ever I was born
For the parting of our love would be like parting with my life –
So stay at home my dearest love, and I will be your wife
Oh nancy darling nancy, sure that would never do
The government has ordered, and we are bound to go
The government has ordered and the queen she gives command
And I am bound on oath my love to serve in a foreign land
Oh then I’ll cut off my long hair, and I’ll go along with you
I’ll dress myself in uniform and I’ll see egypt too
I’ll march beneath your banner while fortune she do smile
And we’ll comfort one another along the banks of the nile
But your waist it is too slender, your fingers they’re too small
The cruel Sun of egypt your rosy cheeks would spoil
Well the cannons they do rattle and the bullets they do fly
And the silver trumpets sound so loud to hide the dismal cries
Oh then cursed be those cruel wars since ever they began
For they have robbed our country of many’s the handsome man
They have robbed us of our sweethearts, while their bodies they feed the lions
On the dry & sandy deserts, which are the banks of the nile
