The Recruiting Sergeant

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[Verse 1]
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As I was walking down the road, a-feeling fine and larkey, oh
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A recruiting sargeant came up to me, says he, "You'd look fine in khaki, oh
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For the King, he is in need of men, come read this proclamation, oh
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A life in Flanders for you then would be a fine vacation, oh."

[Verse 2]
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"That may be so," says I to him, "But tell me sargeant, deary-o
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If I had a pack stuck up on me back would I be fine and cheery-oh?
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For they'd have you train and drill until they'd have you one of the Frenchies, oh
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It may be warm in Flanders but it's drafty in the trenches, oh."

[Verse 3]
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The sargeant smiled and winked his eye, his smile was most provoking, oh
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He twiddled and twirled his wee moustache, says he, "I know you're only joking, oh.
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The sandbags are so warm and high, the wind you won't feel blowing, oh."
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I winked at a cailin passing by, says I, "What if it's snowing, oh?"


[Verse 4]
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Come rain or hail or wind or snow, I'm not going out to Flanders, oh
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There's fighting in Dublin to be done, let your sargeants and you commanders go.
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Let English men fight English wars, it's nearly time they started, oh
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I saluted the sargeant a very good night.  There and then we parted, oh.