“It's now, my brave fellows, if you want to enlist,

It's five golden guineas I'll clap in your fist;

Besides, there's five shillings to kick up a dust

As you go to the fair in the morning.

“It's then you will also go decent and clean

While all other fellows go dirty and mean;

While all other fellows go dirty and mean,

And sup their bugoo in the morning.”

“Och, you need not be talking about your fine pay,

For all you have got is one shilling a day;

And as for your debt, the drums pay your way

As you march through the town in the morning.

“And you need not be talking about your fine clothes,

For you've just got the loan of them, as I do suppose;

And you dare not sell them in spite of your nose,

Or you would get flogged in the morning.”

“The Recruiting Sergeant,” traditional Irish, English, and Scottish ballad