Language   

Arthur McBride

Anonymous
Back to the song page with all the versions


OriginalVersione cantata da Bob Dylan
ARTHUR MCBRIDE

I once knew a fellow called Arthur McBride
And his pleasure was walking down by the seaside
A-walking, a-talking, a-viewing the tide
If the weather was pleasant and charming
So gay and so gallant we went on a tramp
We met Sergeant Harper and Corporal Cramp
And the bonnie little drummer who roused up the camp
With his rowdedowdow in the morning

What ho, my 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 ho, my 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 my 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 care not to sail
For we are the boys of the morning
If you would insult me without any word
I swear by my king I would draw my broad sword
And I'd run through your body as strength me afford
Ere you could breathe out the morning

We laid the little drummer as flat as a shoe
We made a football of his rowdedowdoo
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 McBride
For spoiling our walk in the morning.
ARTHUR MCBRIDE

Oh, me and my cousin, one Arthur McBride,
As we went a-walkin' down by the seaside,
Mark now what followed and what did betide,
For it bein' on Christmas mornin'
Now, for recreation, we went on a tramp,
And we met Sergeant Napper and Corporal Vamp
And a little wee drummer intending to camp,
For the day bein' pleasant and charmin'.

"Good morning, good morning," the Sergeant he cried.
"And the same to you, gentlemen," we did reply,
Intending no harm but meant to pass by,
For it bein' on Christmas mornin'
"But," says he, "My fine fellows, if you will enlist,
Ten guineas in gold I'll stick to your fist,
And a crown in the bargain for to kick up the dust,
And drink the king's health in the morning.

"For a soldier, he leads a very fine life,
And he always is blessed with a charming young wife,
And he pays all his debts without sorrow or strife,
And he always lives pleasant and charmin',
And a soldier, he always is decent and clean,
In the finest of clothing he's constantly seen.
While other poor fellows go dirty and mean,
And sup on thin gruel in the morning."

"But," says Arthur, "I wouldn't be proud of your clothes,
For you've only the lend of them, as I suppose,
But you dare not change them one night, for you know
If you do, you'll be flogged in the morning,
And although that we're single and free,
We take great delight in our own company,
We have no desire strange places to see,
Although that your offers are charming.

"And we have no desire to take your advance,
All hazards and dangers we barter on chance,
For you'd have no scruples for to send us to France,
Where we would get shot without warning,"
"Oh no," says the Sergeant. "I'll have no such chat,
And neither will I take it from snappy young brats,
For if you insult me with one other word,
I'll cut off your heads in the morning."

And Arthur and I, we soon drew our hogs,
And we scarce gave them time to draw their own blades
When a trusty shillelagh came over their head
And bid them take that as fair warning.
And their old rusty rapiers that hung by their sides,
We flung them as far as we could in the tide,
"Now take them up, devils!" cried Arthur McBride,
"And temper their edge in the mornin'!"

And the little wee drummer, we flattened his bow,
And we made a football of his rowdy-dow-dow,
Threw it in the tide for to rock and to roll,
And bade it a tedious returning,
And we havin' no money, paid them off in cracks.
We paid no respect to their two bloody backs,
And we lathered them there like a pair of wet sacks,
And left them for dead in the morning.

And so, to conclude and to finish disputes,
We obligingly asked if they wanted recruits,
For we were the lads who would give them hard clouts
And bid them look sharp in the mornin'.

Oh, me and my cousin, one Arthur McBride,
As we went a-walkin' down by the seaside,
Mark now what followed and what did betide,
For it bein' on Christmas mornin'


Back to the song page with all the versions

Main Page

Note for non-Italian users: Sorry, though the interface of this website is translated into English, most commentaries and biographies are in Italian and/or in other languages like French, German, Spanish, Russian etc.




hosted by inventati.org