I'll be a soldier

I'll be a soldier and march to the drum,

And lie in my tent when the night shadows come;

I'll be a soldier with knapsack and gun,

And stand to my post 'till the din of battle's done.

Chorus:

Farewell! my own lov'd Jenny dear,

Still will I dream of thee where ever I may stray;

Farewell! before the coming year,

I'll be a soldier far away.

I'll be a soldier and join in the fray,

With black shining belt and a jacket of grey;

I'll face up the battle as bold as a hawk,

As gay as a lark and as steady as I rock.

I'll be a soldier, “My country” 's the cry,

I'll fly to defend her and conquer or die;

The land of my childhood my love and my tears,

The land of my birth and my early sunny years.

I'll be a soldier, and when we have won,

I'll come back to thee with my knapsack and gun,

I'll come with a true heart and kiss off each tear,

And linger beside thee forever Jenny dear.