Ah, hear! Ah, hear! 'Tis the fife's loud trill!Tife? 'Tis the bullet's rattle!Cowards! Cowards! They fall around!Cowards? Their blood soaks into the ground.
Rrrrrrrm Rrrrrrrrm Rrrrrrrm te tum tum,'Tis the Colours' call to the dyeing,'Tis the flag needs the blood of killing,The glorious deeds for her thrilling,—The red for her fading colour—the glory!The man-child craveth his war-time story.Rrrrrrrm Rrrrrrrm Rrrrrrm te tum tumThe shrill of the fife and the drum's gay rattle!
Step out! Step out! Ye men, to the battle!Graves? What matter as to their graves?The grass that grows from the blood of bravesShows a richer green, grows a brighter green,—Rrrrrrm Rrrrrrrm Rrrrrrrrm te tum tum,The far fife shrills to the muffled drum!
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