Page:Ballads and Barrack-Room Ballads (1892).djvu/213

Kabul town is sun and dust—
 Blow the bugle, draw the sword—
I’d ha’ sooner drownded fust
 ’Stead of ’im beside the ford.
  Ford, ford, ford o’ Kabul river,
   Ford o’ Kabul river in the dark!
  You can ’ear the ’orses threshin’, you can ’ear the men a-splashin’,
   ’Cross the ford o’ Kabul river in the dark.

Kabul town was ours to take—
 Blow the bugle, draw the sword—
I’d ha’ left it for ’is sake—
 ’Im that left me by the ford.
  Ford, ford, ford o’ Kabul river,
   Ford o’ Kabul river in the dark!
  It’s none so bloomin’ dry there; ain’t you never comin’ nigh there,
   ’Cross the ford o’ Kabul river in the dark?

Kabul town’ll go to hell—
 Blow the bugle, draw the sword—
’Fore I see him’live an’ well—
 ’Im the best beside the ford.