Читать книгу Writ in Barracks - Wallace Edgar - Страница 8

When the depôt soldier's dinin' on three-quarters of a pound,

If there's too much bone to please 'im, or the meat is extry tough,

'E 'as got a chance of grousin' when 'is orficer goes round,

'E can draw upon the mess-book, if 's rations ain't enough.

But it's make your own arrangements! Make your own arrangements!

When you're cut orf from the column, an' supplies are runnin' low,

It ain't no 'too much fat, sir!'

But it's bread – an' glad of that, sir!

O it's bake your own arrangements – out of flour – as you go!

When the depôt soldier's on parade 'e sparkles an' 'e shines.

When the depôt soldier's drillin' 'e must make each motion 'tell.'

When the depôt soldier's marchin' 'e must march on drill-book lines.

'E 'as got a drill-instructor, an' 'e does it very well.

But it's make your own arrangements! Make your own arrangements!

When the camp is rushed at midnight, an' you're fallin' in – to die!

O there ain't no drill-rules set there,

But it's take your gun – an' get there!

When you make your own arrangements, you must grab your belt an' fly.

The depôt soldier's grounded in a systematic drill;

'E also knows wot's 'rendezvous' an' what is 'bivouac.'

'E knows the use of rifle-pits, the proper way to kill —

'E understands the principles an' the'ries of attack.

But it's make your own arrangements! Make your own arrangements!

When you're dodgin' tons of boulder, climbin' mount'ins under fire,

An' the drill-book won't assist you

Till the fallin' rocks 'ave missed you!

So you make your own arrangements – an' you climb a little 'igher!

When the depôt soldier's wantin' with 'is orficer to speak,

'E must 'alt two paces from 'im, an' salute before the start.

An' 'e mustn't try to argue, an' 'e mustn't give no cheek;

An' if 'is Captain slangs 'im – 'e must take it in good part.

But it's make your own arrangements! Make your own arrangements!

When you see 'im lying wounded, all the circumstances change.

An' you don't 'eed no instructions;

An' you don't need introductions;

But you make your own arrangements – an' you get 'im out of range.

When the depôt soldier sickens, when the depôt soldier dies,

'E is buried by 'is comrades in the regulation style.

'E is covered by an ensign of the regulation size,

An' 'e gets a firin' party made of thirteen rank an' file.

But it's make your own arrangements! Make your own arrangements!

When the Colonel reads the service by a guard-room lantern light.

When in silent rows you've laid 'em

In a trench your bay'nets made 'em,

O, it's make your own arrangements when you bury in the night!