Ballads of Battle/"Stay-at-Home Hearts are Best"—Not 'Alf
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"STAY-AT-HOME HEARTS ARE BEST "—NOT 'ALF
The men who stay at home at ease,
And go to bed just when they please,
Have lots o' baccy and o' beer,
And yet—I'd rather be out here!
And go to bed just when they please,
Have lots o' baccy and o' beer,
And yet—I'd rather be out here!
The chaps who stay at home and dine
Have heaps of wictuals and o' wine,
With walnuts—shelled—and all good cheer—
It's better to be shelled out here!
(Swish—bang!)
Have heaps of wictuals and o' wine,
With walnuts—shelled—and all good cheer—
It's better to be shelled out here!
(Swish—bang!)
The men who stay at home at ease
Need never try to wash their knees.
In dixie[1] lids—yet never fear,
I'd rather far be dirty here!
Need never try to wash their knees.
In dixie[1] lids—yet never fear,
I'd rather far be dirty here!
The chaps at home they earn good pay,
And don clean linen every day,
While my shirt runs—its wild career!
Yet—rather I'd be lousy here!
(Yes, even that!)
And don clean linen every day,
While my shirt runs—its wild career!
Yet—rather I'd be lousy here!
(Yes, even that!)
The chaps who stay—the lucky dogs!—
Can stroll around in tailored togs,
While my make-up is something queer—
Yet—better be à scarecrow here!
Can stroll around in tailored togs,
While my make-up is something queer—
Yet—better be à scarecrow here!
The chaps who stay at home and play
At tennis through a summer day,
Need ne'er fall bleeding to the rear—
And yet—I'd rather play out here!
At tennis through a summer day,
Need ne'er fall bleeding to the rear—
And yet—I'd rather play out here!
Sweet-hearting?—ah! you lucky chaps
Who go a-wooing—well, perhaps,
Unless I get a nasty whack,
I'll get a girl when I go back.
Who go a-wooing—well, perhaps,
Unless I get a nasty whack,
I'll get a girl when I go back.
Why, yes, who knows? there still might be
Some girl to love a bloke like me;
There's Dolly—would she drop a tear
If I went under over here?
Some girl to love a bloke like me;
There's Dolly—would she drop a tear
If I went under over here?
The men who live at home at ease,
May list—then 'LIST—just as they please,
For me, by Christ! my conscience clear,
I think I'd rather die out here!
(Stretcher-bearers!)
May list—then 'LIST—just as they please,
For me, by Christ! my conscience clear,
I think I'd rather die out here!
(Stretcher-bearers!)
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CORPORAL, GURKHA REGIMENT
- ↑ A mess tin—very literally.