| Kabul town’s by Kabul river - |
| Blow the trumpet, draw the sword - |
| There I lef’ my mate for ever, |
| Wet an’ drippin' by the ford. |
| Ford, ford, ford o' Kabul river, |
| Ford o’ Kabul river in the dark! |
| There’s the river up and brimmin', an’ there’s ’arf |
| a squadron swimmin’ |
| ’Cross the ford o’ Kabul river in the dark. |
| |
| Kabul town’s a blasted place - |
| Blow the trumpet, draw the sword - |
| ’Strewth I shan’t forget ’is face |
| Wet an’ drippin’ by the ford! |
| Ford, ford, ford o’ Kabul river, |
| Ford o' Kabul river in the dark! |
| Keep the crossing-stakes beside you, an’ they |
| will surely guide you |
| 'Cross the ford o’ Kabul river in the dark. |
| |
|
| Blow the trumpet, draw the sword - |
| I’d ha’ sooner drownded fust |
| 'Stead of ’im beside the ford. |
| Ford, ford, ford o’ Kabul river, |
| ’ Kabul river in the dark! |
| ’ear the ’orses threshin’; you can ’ear |
| the men a-splashin’, |
| ’Cross the ford o’Kabul river in the dark. |
| |
| Kabul town was ours to take - |
|
| I’d ha’ left it for ’is sake - |
| ’Im that left me by the ford. |
| Ford, ford, ford o’ Kabul river, |
| Ford o’ Kabul river in the dark! |
| ’s none so bloomin’ dry there; ain’t you never |
| cornin’ nigh there, |
| ’Cross the ford o’ Kabul river in the dark? |
| |
| Kabul town’ll go to hell - |
| Blow the trumpet, draw the sword - |
| ’Fore I see him ’live an’ well - |
| ‘Im the best beside the ford. |
| Ford, ford, ford o’ Kabul river, |
| Ford o’ Kabul river in the dark! |
| Gawd ’elp ’em if they blunder, for their boots’ll |
| ’em under, |
| By the ford o’ Kabul river in the dark. |
| |
| Turn your ’orse from Kabul town - |
| Blow the trumpet, draw the sword - |
| ’Im an’ ’arf my troop is down, |
|
| Ford, ford, ford o’ Kabul river, |
| ’ Kabul river in the dark! |
| There’s the river low an’ failin’, but it ain’t no |
| use a-callin’ |
| ’Cross the ford o’ Kabul river in the dark! |