The Banks Of The Nile

Hark, I hear the drums a-beating
And love, I must away
I hear the bugle's calling me
I can no longer stay
We are bound down to Portsmouth town
It's many's a weary mile
To join the British army
On the banks of the Nile

William, dearest William
Don't leave me here to mourn
You'll make me curse and rue the day
That ever I was born
I will cut off my curly locks
And come along with you
I'll dress myself in velveteen
And go to Egypt too

Nancy, lovely Nancy
With me you cannot go
Our Colonel's given orders
No women are to go
We must forget our own sweethearts
All on our native isle
And fight for king and country
On the banks of the Nile

Cursed be the wars, my love
And how they first began
For they have robbed old Ireland
Of many's a brave young man
They've taken our own sweethearts
All from our native isle
And their bodies lie a-mouldering
On the banks of the Nile

When the wars are over
It's home we will return
Back to our wives and our sweethearts
We left behind at home
We'll roll them in our arms
All for a little while
And go no more to battle
On the banks of the Nile