Henrik Norbeck's Song Lyrics

Recruiting Sergeant, The

Sheet Music (and more information about this song)

1. As I was walking down the street
a-feeling fine and larky oh,
a recruiting sergeant came up to me,
says you'd look fine in khaki oh.
For the king he is in need of men,
come read this proclamation oh.
A life for you in Flanders then,
would be a fine vacation oh.

2. That maybe so, says I to him,
but tell me sergeant dearie oh.
If I had a pack stuck upon me back,
would I look fine and cheerie oh?
For they'd have you train and drill until
they had you one of Frenchies oh.
It may be warm in Flanders,
but it's draughty in the trenches oh!

3. The sergeant smiled and winked his eye,
his smile was most provoking oh.
He twiddled and twirled his wee moustache,
says he, you're only joking oh!
For the sandbags are so warm and high,
The wind you won't feel blowing oh!
I winked at a colleen passing by,
says I, so what if it's snowing oh?

4. Come rain or hail or wind or snow,
I'm not going out to Flanders oh!
There's fighting in Dublin to be done.
Let your sergeants and your commanders go.
Let Englishmen fight English wars,
It's nearly time they started oh!
I saluted the sergeant a very good night,
and there and then we parted oh!

Discography: Pogues

History: See also song#62 and "The Peeler and the Goat" #80