I pawned my coat for the money to pay
For another day in a place to stay
And walking home heard a sergeant say
Get rich, boys – join the army!

I went and joined the recruiting line
By half past nine I’d a form to sign
I signed it off and I felt just fine
Get rich, boys – join the army!

We marched and drilled til our feet were raw
And we all but swore we were all done for
Then they signed us off for to join the war
Get rich, boys – join the army!

We loaded up and we sailed away
At the break of day we left the quay
Armed up and bating for the fray
Get rich, boys – join the army!

They gave us guns and they trained us well
But half of us fell to shot and shell
And they left the rest in living hell
Get rich boys – join the army!

We fought and killed and killed and bled
And the mud turned red round the shattered dead
And all I could hear was a voice that said
Get rich, boys – join the army!

Copyright © 2018 by Finn McLellan.  All rights reserved.