Ballads and Barrack-Room Ballads/Cells
For other versions of this work, see Cells.
CELLS
I’ve a head like a concertina: I’ve a tongue like a button-stick:I’ve a mouth like an old potato, and I’m more than a little sick,But I’ve had my fun o’ the Corp’ral’s Guard: I’ve made the cinders fly,And I’m here in the Clink for a thundering drink and blacking the Corporal’s eye.
With a second-hand overcoat under my head, And a beautiful view of the yard,Oh, it’s pack-drill for me and a fortnight’s C.B. For ‘drunk and resisting the Guard!’ Mad drunk and resisting the Guard— ’Strewth, but I socked it them hard!So it’s pack-drill for me and a fortnight’s C.B. For ‘drunk and resisting the Guard.’
I started o’ canteen porter, I finished o’ canteen beer,But a dose o’ gin that a mate slipped in, it was that brought me here.’Twas that and an extry double Guard that rubbed my nose in the dirt;But I fell away with the Corp’ral’s stock and the best of the Corp’ral’s shirt.
I left my cap in a public-house, my boots in the public road,And Lord knows where, and I don’t care, my belt and my tunic goed,They’ll stop my pay, they’ll cut away the stripes I used to wear,But I left my mark on the Corp’ral’s face, and I think he’ll keep it there!
My wife she cries on the barrack-gate, my kid in the barrack-yard,It ain’t that I mind the Ord’ly room—it’s that that cuts so hard.
I’ll take my oath before them both that I will sure abstain,But as soon as I’m in with a mate and gin, I know I’ll do it again!
With a second-hand overcoat under my head And a beautiful view of the yard,:Yes, it’s pack-drill for me and a fortnight’s C.B. For ‘drunk and resisting the Guard.’ Mad drunk and resisting the Guard— ’Strewth, but I socked it them hard!So it’s pack-drill with me and a fortnight’s C.B. For ‘drunk and resisting the Guard.’