Troopin’

TROOPIN’

Old English Army in the East

Troopin’, troopin’, troopin’ to the sea:

’Ere’s September come again - the six-year men are free.

’ind us, for they cannot come away

To where the ship’s a-coalin’ up that takes us ’ome to-day.

We’re goin’ ’ome, we’re goin’ ’ome,

Our ship is at the shore,

An’ you must pack your ’aversack,

’t come back no more.

Ho, don’t you grieve for me,

My lovely Mary-Ann!

For I’ll marry you yit on a fourp’ny bit

As a time-expired man.

’arbour with the fumner at ’er tail,

An’ the time-expired’s waitin’ of ’is orders for to sail.

Ho! the weary waitin’ when on Khyber ’ills we lay,

But the time-expired’s waitin’ of ’is orders ’ome to-day.

They’ll turn us out at Portsmouth wharf in cold an’ wet an’ rain,

’ Injian cotton kit, but we will not complain.

They’ll kill us of pneumonia - for that’s their little way -

But damn the chills and fever, men, we’re goin’ ’ome to-day!

Troopin’, troopin’, winter’s round again!

See the new draf’s pourin’ in for the old campaign;

’ve got to earn your pay -

What’s the last from Lunnon, lads? We’re goin’ there to-day.

Troopin’, troopin’, give another cheer -

’Ere’s to English women an’ a quart of English beer.

The Colonel an’ the Regiment an’ all who’ve got to stay,

’s Mercy strike ’em gentle! Whoop! we’re goin’ ’ome to-day.

We’re goin’ ’ome, we’re goin’ ’ome,

Our ship is at the shore,

An’ you must pack your ’aversack,

For we won’t come back no more,

’t you grieve for me,

For I’ll marry you yit on a fourp’ny bit

As a time-expired man.