THE RECRUITING
SERJEANT

Printed for and sold by J. Pitts. 14, Great
St. Andrew street, Seven Dials.

WHEN first I heard the drum and fife
Strike up a march so neatly O,
I thought I never in my life,
Heard music found so sweetly O;
The soldiers they in coats so gay,
Retreating and advancing too;
With martial air to win the fair,
It set my heart a dancing too;
BrownBELLS I feiz'd the girls were pleaf'd,
I look'd so smart you don't now how,
They laugh'd and cried, and figh'd and died,
When first I join'd the row-dow-dow.
But when no joke at all they found :
But that I must be going O.
In tears they every one were drown'd,
Their grief so overflowing O;
But off I went, aboard was sent,
The Mounfeers fought so finely too
With blows & bumps, and whacks & thumps
We paid 'em so divinely too;
While cannon shot flew thick and hot,
Such sport it was you don't now how,
Upon that day to cut and slay,
And all to the tune of row-dow-dow.
So well I lik'd the notion,
Of guns and wounds, and all that there,
I quickly got promotion,
And now my sword and halberd bear;
Then every lad must be glad,
On terms like these with me to lift,
Here's glorious fame, a hero's name,
Besides ten guineas in your fist;
Which if you live, will pleafure give,
And if you die, you don't now how
Your praise 'twill raife, to end your days,
And to the tune of row-dow-dow.