Birds of Prey March

[Intro]
March! The mud is cakin' good around our trousers
Front! -Eyes front an' watch the Color-casins drip
Front! The faces of the women in the houses
Ain't the kind o' sight to take aboard the ship

[Chorus]
Cheer! We'll never march to victory
Cheer! We'll never live to 'ear the cannon's roar!
The large birds of prey
They will carry us away
An' you'll never see your soldiers anymore!

[Verse 1]
Wheel! Ah, keep your touch; we're goin' round a corner
Time! -Mark time, an' let the men behind us close
Lord! The transports full, and half our lot not on 'er-
Cheer, o' cheer! We're going off where no-one knows

[Chorus]
Cheer! We'll never march to victory
Cheer! We'll never live to hear the cannon roar!
The large birds of prey
They will carry us away
You'll never see your soldiers anymore!

[Verse 2]
March! The Devil's none so black as 'e is painted!
Cheer! We'll have some fun before we're put away
'Alt, an' hand 'er out- A woman's gone and fainted!
Cheer! Get on- God help the married men today!

[Chorus]
Cheer! We'll never march to victory
Cheer! We'll never live to hear the cannon roar!
The large birds of prey
They will carry us away
You'll never see your soldiers anymore!

[Verse 3]
Hoi! Come up, you hungry beggars, to yer sorrow
Hear them say they want their tea, an' want it quick!
Ah- You won't have no mind for slingers, not tomorrow-
No; You'll be put out the 'tween-decks, bein' sick!

[Chorus]
Cheer! We'll never march to victory
Cheer! We'll never live to hear the cannon roar!
The large birds of prey
They will carry us away
You'll never see your soldiers anymore!

[Verse 4]
'Alt! The married kit 'as all to go before us-
'Course it's blocked the bleedin' gangway up again!
Cheer, o' cheer the horse guards watchin' tender o'er us
Keepin' us since eight this mornin' in the rain!

[Chorus]
Cheer! We'll never march to victory
Cheer! We'll never live to hear the cannon roar!
The large birds of prey
They will carry us away
You'll never see your soldiers anymore!

[Verse 5]
Stuck: In heavy marchin'-order, sopped and wringin'-
Sick, before our time to watch her heave an' fall
Here's your happy home at last, an' stop your singin'
'Alt! Fall in along the troop-deck! Silence all!

[Outro]
Cheer! For we'll never live to see no bloomin' victory!
Cheer! An' we'll never live to hear the cannon roar!
The jackal an' the kite
Have a healthy appetite
An' you'll never see your soldiers anymore!
The eagle and the crow
They are waitin' ever so
You'll never see your soldiers anymore!
Yes, the large birds o' prey
They will carry us away
You'll never see your soldiers anymore!