Irish traditional song lyrics — collected by Beer Belly Band.
A recruiting sergeant come through the streets of Rochester
Home from the wars in the low country
And he sang as he marched and he played upon his kettle drum
Who’ll be a soldier for Marlborough and me
Who’ll be a soldier, who’ll be a soldier
Who’ll be a soldier for Marlborough and me
And he sang as he marched and he played upon his kettle drum
Who’ll be a soldier for Marlborough and me
For the Queen she has ordered fresh troupes for the continent
To fight ‘gainst the French in the low country
So if you be rover all in a scarlet uniform
Come be a soldier for Marlborough and me
Come be a soldier, Come be a soldier for Marlborough and me,
Come be a soldier for Marlborough and me
So if you be rover all in a scarlet uniform
Come be a soldier for Marlborough and me
Oh, not I said the butcher, not I said the mason
Most of the people they would agree
To be paid in the powder and rattle of the cannon ball
Wages for soldiers for Marlborough and thee
Wages for soldiers, Wages for soldiers,
Wages for soldiers for Marlborough and thee
To be paid in the powder and rattle of the cannon ball
Wages for soldiers for Marlborough and thee
“Ah I,” said the young man, “have long endured the Parish dues
No more charity for the likes of me
Starvation and danger, they shall be my destiny
I’ll take the Queen’s shilling for Marlborough and thee
I’ll take the Queen’s shilling; I’ll take the Queen’s shilling,
I’ll take the Queen’s shilling for Marlborough and thee
Starvation and danger, they shall be my destiny
I’ll take the Queen’s shilling for Marlborough and thee
So forty recruits marched through the streets of Rochester
Bound for the wars in the low country
And they sang as they marched through those crowded streets of Rochester
Who’ll be a soldier for Marlborough and me
Who’ll be a soldier, who’ll be a soldier
Who’ll be a soldier for Marlborough and me
And they sang as they marched through those crowded streets of Rochester
Who’ll be a soldier for Marlborough and me