Troopin'

Trooping, trooping, trooping to the sea

Here's September come again

And the six year men are free

Oh, leave the dead behind us

For they cannot come away

To where the ships are calling up

That takes us home today

We're going home, we're going home

Our ship is at the shore

And you must pack your haversack

For we won't come back no more

Oh, don't you grieve for me

My lovely Mary Ann

For I'll marry a yat

And a fourpenny bit

As a time expired man

The Malabar's in harbour

With the Jumna at her tail

The time expired's waiting

Of his orders for to sail

Oh, the weary waiting

When on coverels we lay

But the time expired's waiting

Of his orders home today

They'll turn us out at Portsmouth Wharf

In cold and wet and rain

All wearing engine 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 going home today

Trooping, trooping

For winter's round again

See the new drafts pouring in

For the old campaign

Oh, you poor recruitees

But you've got to earn your pay

What's the last from London, lads?

We're going there today

Trooping, trooping

Give another cheer

Here's to English women

And a quart of English beer

The colonel and the regiment

And all who've got to stay

God's mercy strike 'em gentle

Oh, we're going home today

We're going home, we're going home

Our ship is at the shore

And you must pack your haversack

For we won't come back no more

Oh, don't you grieve for me

My lovely Mary Ann

For I'll marry a yat