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Ballads and Barrack-Room Ballads/Danny Deever

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For other versions of this work, see Danny Deever.

DANNY DEEVER

What are the bugles blowin’ for?’ said Files-on-Parade.‘To turn you out, to turn you out,’ the Colour Sergeant said.‘What makes you look so white, so white?’ said Files-on-Parade.‘I’m dreadin’ what I’ve got to watch,’ the Colour Sergeant said.  For they’re hangin’ Danny Deever, you can hear the Dead March play,  The regiment’s in ’ollow square—they’re hangin’ him to-day;  They’ve taken of his buttons off an’ cut his stripes away,  An’ they’re hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’.
‘What makes the rear-rank breathe so ’ard?’ said Files-on-Parade.‘It’s bitter cold, it’s bitter cold,’ the Colour Sergeant said.‘What makes that front-rank man fall down?’ says Files-on-Parade.‘A touch o’ sun, a touch o’ sun,’ the Colour-Sergeant said.  They are hangin’ Danny Deever, they are marchin’ of ’im round,  They ’ave ’alted Danny Deever by ’is coffin on the ground;  An’ ’e’ll swing in ’arf a minute for a sneakin’ shootin’ hound—  O they’re hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’!
‘’Is cot was right-’and cot to mine,’ said Files-on-Parade.‘’E’s sleepin’ out an’ far to-night,’ the Colour Sergeant said.‘I’ve drunk ’is beer a score o’ times,’ said Files-on-Parade.‘’E’s drinkin’ bitter beer alone,’ the Colour-Sergeant said.   They are hangin’ Danny Deever, you must mark ’im to ’is place,  For ’e shot a comrade sleepin’—you must look ’im in the face;  Nine ’undred of ’is county an’ the regiment’s disgrace,  While they’re hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’.
‘What’s that so black agin the sun?’ said Files-on-Parade.‘It’s Danny fightin’ ’ard for life,’ the Colour Sergeant said.‘What’s that that whimpers over’ead?’ said Files-on-Parade.‘It’s Danny’s soul that’s passin’ now,’ the Colour Sergeant said.  For they’re done with Danny Deever, you can ’ear the quickstep play,  The regiment’s in column, an’ they’re marchin’ us away;  Ho! the young recruits are shakin’, an’ they’ll want their beer to-day,  After hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’.