Arthur McBride I had a first cousin called Arthur McBride, he and I took a stroll down by the seaside A-seeking good fortune and what might betide, 'twas just as the day was a-dawning And then after resting we both took a tramp, we met sergeant Harper and corporal Cramp Besides the wee drummer who beat up our camp with his rowdy-dow-dow in the morning Says the sergeant 'My boys, if you will enlist, a Guinee you quickly will have in your fist Besides a Crown for to kick up the dust and drink the King's health in the morning' Had we been such fools as to take the advance the wee bitter morning we had run to chance For you'd think it no scruple to send us to France where we would be killed in the morning Says the sergeant 'My boys, if I hear one more word, I instantly now will out with my sword And into your bodies as strength will afford, so now, my gay devils, take warning' But Arthur and I we took in the odds, we gave them no chance to lunge out their swords Our whacking shillelaghs came over their heads and paid them right smart in the morning As for the wee drummer we rifled his pouch and we made a football of his rowdy-dow-dow And into the ocean to rock and to row and bade him a tedious returning As for the old rapier that hung by his side we flung it as far as we could in the tide To the devil I bid you says Arthur McBride to temper your steel in the morning

© 2005 Jonathan Ramsey Irish Music Productions