Henrik Norbeck's ABC Tunes

Display tune: Arthur McBride

(lyrics page)
Scale: Width:
From file hnsong0.abc Get ABC for this tune
X:81
T:Arthur McBride
R:song
D:Planxty (Andy Irvine)
Z:id:hn-song-81
M:3/4
L:1/8
Q:1/4=160
K:F
F2 | F3 G F2 | F2 C2 D2 | F2 G2 F2 | A4
cc | d2 c2 B2 | A2 (B2 A2) | G3 A(GF) | D4
F2 | F2 G2 F2 | F2 C2 D2 | F2 G2 F2| A4
c2 | c2 B2 A2 | G2 A2 c2 | (d3 e d2) | c4 ||
A2 | c4 c2 | A2 B2 c2 | d2 c2 B2| c4
A2 | B2 c2 B2 | A2 G2 F2 | G3 A (GF) | D4
F2 | F2 G2 F2 | F2 C2 D2 | F2 G2 F2 | A4
cc | c3 B A2 | G2 D2 E2 | F2 F4- | F4 ||
W:I had a first cousin called Arthur McBride
W:He and I took a stroll down by the seaside
W:A-seeking good fortune and what might betide
W:'Twas just as the day was a-dawning
W:And after resting we both took a tramp
W:We met Seargeant Harper and Corporal Cramp
W:Besides the wee drummer who beat up our camp
W:With his rowdy-dow-dow in the morning.
W:
W:He says: "My young fellows if you will enlist
W:a guinea you quickly will have in your fist
W:and likewise a crown for to kick up the dust
W:and drink the king's health in the morning
W:For a soldier he leads a very fine life
W:And he always is blessed with a charming young wife
W:And he pays all his debts without sorrow or strife
W:And always lives pleasant and charming."
W:
W:"A soldier he always is decent and clean,
W:In the finest of clothing he's constantly seen,
W:While other poor fellows go dirty and mean
W:And sup on thin gruel in the morning."
W:Says Arthur: "I wouldn't be proud of your clothes,
W:for you've only the lend of them as I suppose,
W:and you dare not change them one night, for you know,
W:if you do you'll be flogged in the morning."
W:
W:"Although we are single and free
W:we take great delight in our own company,
W:and we have no desire strange countries to see,
W:although that your offer is charming.
W:But had we been such fools as to take the advance
W:The wee bit of money we'd have to run chance
W:For you'd think it no scruples for to send us to France
W:Where we would be killed in the morning."
W:
W:He says: "My young fellows if I hear but one word
W:I instantly now will out with my sword
W:and into your bodies as strength might afford
W:so now my gay devils take warning."
W:But Arthur and I we soon took the odds
W:And we gave them no chance for to launch out their swords
W:Our whacking shillelaghs came over their heads
W:And paid them right smart in the morning.
W:
W:As for the wee drummer we rifled his pouch
W:and we made a football of his rowdy-dow-dow
W:and into the ocean for to rock and to roll
W:And bade it a tedious returning
W:As for the old rapier that hung by his side
W:We flung as far as we could in the tide
W:To the divil I pitch you says Arthur McBride
W:To temper your steel in the morning.

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