y ranted an' they sang;
Wi' jumping an' thumping
The very girdle rang. [cake-pan]

First, niest the fire, in auld red rags, [next]
Ane sat, weel brac'd wi' mealy bags,
An' knapsack a' in order;
His doxy lay within his arm; [mistress]
Wi' usquebae an blankets warm [whisky]
She blinket on her sodger; [leered]
An' aye he gies the tozie drab [flushed with drink]
The tither skelpin' kiss, [smacking]
While she held up her greedy gab, [mouth]
Just like an aumous dish; [alms]
Ilk smack still did crack still
Just like a cadger's whip; [hawker's]
Then, swaggering an' staggering,
He roar'd this ditty up--

Air

TUNE: Soldier's Joy

I am a son of Mars, who have been in many wars,
And show my cuts and scars wherever I come:
This here was for a wench, and that other in a trench,
When welcoming the French at the sound of the drum,
Lal de daudle, &c.

My 'prenticeship I past where my leader breath'd his last,
When the bloody die was cast on the heights of Abram;
And I serv'd out my trade when the gallant game was play'd,
And the Moro low was laid at the sound of the drum.

I lastly was with Curtis, among the floating batt'ries,
And there I left for witness an arm and a limb:
Yet let my country need me, with Elliot to head me,
I'd clatter on my stamps at the sound of a drum.

And now, tho' I must beg, with a wooden arm and leg,
And many a tattered rag hanging over my bum,
I'm as happy with my wallet, my bottle, and my callet, [trull]
As when I used in scarlet to follow a drum.

What tho' with hoary locks I must stand the winter shocks,
Beneath the woods and rocks oftentimes for a home?
When the t'other bag I sell, and the t'other bottle tell,
I could meet a troop of hell at the sound of the drum.

Recitativo

He ended; and the kebars sheuk [rafters shook]
Aboon the chorus roar; [Above]
While frighted rattons backward leuk, [rats, look]
An' seek the benmos