First Series (1892) - Danny Deever
“What are the bugles blowin’
for?” said Files-on-Parade.
“To turn you out, to turn you out”,
the Colour-Sergeant said.
“What makes you look so white, so white?”
said Files-on-Parade.
“I’m dreadin’ what I’ve
got to watch”, the Colour-Sergeant said.
For they’re hangin’ Danny Deever,
you can hear the Dead March play,
The regiment’s in ‘ollow square they’re
hangin’ him to-day;
They’ve taken of his buttons off an’
cut his stripes away,
An’ they’re hangin’ Danny
Deever in the mornin’.
“What makes the rear-rank
breathe so ’ard?” said Files-on-Parade.
“It’s bitter cold, it’s
bitter cold”, the Colour-Sergeant said.
“What makes that front-rank
man fall down?” said Files-on-Parade.
“A touch o’ sun, a touch
o’ sun”, the Colour-Sergeant said.
They are
hangin’ Danny Deever, they are marchin’
of ’im round,
They ’ave
’alted Danny Deever by ’is coffin on the
ground;
An’
’e’ll swing in ‘arf a minute for
a sneakin’ shootin’ hound
O they’re
hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’!
“’Is cot was right-’and
cot to mine”, said Files-on-Parade.
“‘E’s sleepin’
out an’ far to-night”, the Colour-Sergeant
said.
“I’ve drunk ‘is
beer a score o’ times”, said Files-on-Parade.
“‘E’s drinkin’
bitter beer alone”, the Colour-Sergeant said.
They are
hangin’ Danny Deever, you must mark ’im
to ’is place,
For ’e
shot a comrade sleepin’ you must look
’im in the face;
Nine ’undred
of ‘is county an’ the regiment’s
disgrace,
While they’re
hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’.
“What’s that so black
agin’ the sun?” said Files-on-Parade.
“It’s Danny fightin’
’ard for life”, the Colour-Sergeant said.
“What’s that that whimpers
over’ead?” said Files-on-Parade.
“It’s Danny’s
soul that’s passin’ now”, the Colour-Sergeant
said.
For they’re
done with Danny Deever, you can ’ear the quickstep
play,
The regiment’s
in column, an’ they’re marchin’ us
away;
Ho! the
young recruits are shakin’, an’ they’ll
want their beer to-day,
After hangin’
Danny Deever in the mornin’.