Banks of the Nile

Oh hark, the drums do beat my love
 I can no longer stay
 The bugle horns are sounding clear
 And I must march away
 We are ordered down to portsmouth
 And it's many's the weary mile
 To join the british army, along the banks of the nile
 Oh willie, dearest willie
 Don't leave me here to mourn
 Don't make me curse and rue the day
 That ever I was born
 For the parting of our love
 Would be like parting with my life
 So stay at home my dearest love
 And I will be your wife
 Oh nancy, darling nancy
 Sure that would never do
 The government has ordered
 And we are bound to go
 The government has ordered
 And the queen she gives command
 And I am bound on oath, my love
 To serve in a foreign land
 Oh, then I'll cut off my long hair
 And I'll go along with you
 I'll dress myself in uniform & I'll see egypt too
 I'll march beneath your banner
 While fortune she do smile
 And we'll comfort one another
 Along the banks of the nile
 But your waist it is too slender
 Your fingers they're too small
 The cruel sun of egypt your rosy cheeks would spoil
 Well the cannons they do rattle
 And the bullets they do fly
 And the silver trumpets sound so loud
 To hide the dismal cries
 Oh, then cursed be those cruel wars
 Since ever they began
 For they have robbed our country of many's the handsome man
 They have robbed us of our sweethearts
 While their bodies they feed the lions
 On the dry & sandy deserts
 Which are the banks of the nile