Lyrics
Oh, I once was a merry plowboy
A-plowing in the fields all day
'Til a funny thought came to my mind
That I should run away
For I'm tired of the country life
Since the day that I was born
So I'm going to join the army
And I'm off tomorrow morn
A rap for the starlet and the blue
Helmets glistening in the sun
Paying its flash like lightning
To the beating of a military drum
And no more will I go harvesting
Or to gather in the golden corn
For I took the good king's shilling
And I'm off tomorrow morn
Well, I'll leave behind my old smart pout
And I'll leave behind my plow
And I'll leave behind my old grey mare
'Cause I'll not need her now
There's a flag in dear old England
Floating proudly in the sky
And the watchword of our soldiers is
If we conquer or we'll die
A rap for the starlet and the blue
Helmets glistening in the sun
Paying its flash like lightning
To the beating of a military drum
And no more will I go harvesting
Or to gather in the golden corn
For I took the good king's shilling
And I'm off tomorrow morn
Well, there's just one thing that grieves my mind
And that's my Nelly dear
And I hope that she'll be proud of me
When I'm far from here
And if ever I return again
I'll let you all see me
And as I take my Nelly to the church
A sergeant's wife there'll be
A rap for the starlet and the blue
Helmets glistening in the sun
Paying its flash like lightning
To the beating of a military drum
And no more will I go harvesting
Or to gather in the golden corn
For I took the good king's shilling
And I'm off tomorrow morn
A rap for the starlet and the blue
Helmets glistening in the sun
Paying its flash like lightning
To the beating of a military drum
And no more will I go harvesting
Or to gather in the golden corn
For I took the good king's shilling
And I'm off tomorrow morn
