[00:00.00]The Valiant Conscript - Tennessee Ernie Ford
[00:09.04]How are you boys I'm just from camp and feel as brave as caesar
[00:13.37]The sound of bugle drum and fife has raised my ebeneezer
[00:17.76]I'm full of fight odds shot and shell I'll leap into the saddle
[00:22.00]And when the yankees see me come Lord how they will skedaddle
[00:26.58]Hold your head up Shanghai shanks
[00:28.72]Don't shake your knees and blink so
[00:31.02]It is no time to dodge the act
[00:33.09]Brave comrades don't you think so
[00:39.93]I was a ploughboy in the field a gawky lazy didger
[00:44.14]When came the conscript officer and took me for a sodger
[00:48.79]He put a musket in my hand and showed me how to fire it
[00:53.01]I marched and counter marched all day Lord how I did admire it
[00:57.63]Hold your head up Shanghai shanks
[00:59.71]Don't shake your knees and blink so
[01:02.07]It is no time to dodge the act
[01:04.16]Brave comrades don't you think so
[01:10.97]With corn and hog fat for my food and digging guarding drilling
[01:15.51]I got as thin as twice skimmed milk and was scarcely worth the killing
[01:19.91]And now I'm used to homely fare my skin as tough as leather
[01:24.30]I do guard duty cheerfully in any kind of weather
[01:42.48]Tis true I have not seen a fight nor have I smelt gunpowder
[01:46.86]But then the way I'll pepper them will be a sin to chowder
[01:51.29]A sergeant's stripes I now will sport perhaps be colour bearer
[01:55.89]And then a captain good for me I'll be a regular tearer
[02:13.92]I'll then begin to wear the stars and then the wreaths of glory
[02:18.13]Until the army I command and poets sing my story
[02:22.60]Our congress will pass votes of thanks to him thast rose from zero
[02:26.97]The people in a mass will shout hurrah behold the hero
[02:31.70]Hold your head up Shanghai shanks
[02:33.57]Don't shake your knees and blink so
[02:36.04]It is no time to dodge the act
[02:37.94]Brave comrades don't you think so
[02:44.87]What's that
[02:47.54]What's that oh dear a boiler's burst a gaspipe has exploded
[02:51.82]Maybe the yankees are hard by with muskets ready loaded
[02:56.31]Oh gallant soldiers beat 'em back I'll join you in the frolic
[03:00.79]But I've a chill from head to foot and symptoms of the colic
[03:05.46]Hold your head up Shanghai shanks
[03:07.54]Don't shake your knees and blink so
[03:09.94]It is no time to dodge the act
[03:11.79]Brave comrades don't you think so
[03:18.94]It is no time to dodge the act
[03:20.82]Brave comrades don't you think so