Irish traditional song lyrics — collected by Beer Belly Band.
The Military band is playing, come see the parade,
Wave and cheer our heroes as they bravely march away,
This time it’s not the unemployed, the workers or the poor,
It’s the captains of our industries who’re marching off to war.
They’re marching from the boardroom and from the stately home,
From their club and from the embassy we’re proud to see them come,
It’s their turn to lift the banner and to listen to the drum,
Younger men must stay at home and keep the lassies warm.
Hurray, Hurray, they’re matching out today,
The Millionaires and bankers in the Army.
The millionaire director with a rifle in his hand,
Is off to face the enemy to defend his native land,
He likely won’t be quite so fat when he comes back from war,
We know that he’ll fight bravely, he knows what he’s fighting for.
There goes the factory owner with the other wealthy men,
We’ll keep the wheels a turning till they come home again,
Generals order generals to march and wheel and turn,
The men alas must stay at home, there’s plenty to be done.
Hurray, Hurray, they’re matching out today,
The Millionaires and bankers in the Army.
And there’s the politician, who only yesterday
Was talking on the telly of the price we’d have to pay,
He looks a little paler now his words are not so fine,
He’s realized that he’s the one whose life is on the line.
Let’s gather at the window, join the crowds that line the street,
They’re waving to the soldiers marching to the beat,
This time it’s not the unemployed, the workers or the poor,
It’s the judges and the millionaires who’re marching off to war.
Hurray, Hurray, they’re matching out today,
The Millionaires and bankers in the Army.