(Traditional) As I was walking down the road A feeling fine and larky oh A recruiting sergeant came up to me Says he, you'd look fine in khaki oh For the King he is in need of men Come read this proclamation oh A life in Flanders for you then Would be a fine vacation oh That may be so says I to him But tell me sergeant dearie-oh If I had a pack stuck upon my back Would I look fine and cheerie oh For they'd have you train and drill until They had you one of the Frenchies oh It may be warm in Flanders But it's draughty in the trenches oh The sergeant smiled and winked his eye His smile was most provoking oh He twiddled and twirled his wee mustache Says he, I know you're only joking oh For the sandbags are so warm and high The wind you won't feel blowing oh Well I winked at a cailin passing by Says I, what if it's snowing oh 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
