The Remembrance

Remember the bands and the grand parades
The flags, the banners, the fine cockades
And how we all looked up to see the King upon the balcony
Who told us we were young and brave
We'd never become the foreigner's slave
If the foreigner comes off best, he said
'You'll be better off dead'
This was a couple of weeks before we got killed in the war

Remember the drums and the trumpets played
When we set sail on the great crusade
And how we all looked up to see the clergyman on the quay
Who told us we were grand and good
To fight for God, as good men should
If the enemy comes off best, he said
'You'll be better off dead'
And this was a couple of days before we got killed in the war

Remember the night before the raid
When the guns began the cannonade
And how we all looked up to see the captain of the company
Who told us we were bold and strong
Let fame and glory spur us on
If the Enemy comes off best, he said
'You'll be better off dead'
This was a couple of hours before we got killed in the war

Remember the shock of the ambuscade
Remember the terrible fusillade
And how we all looked up to see the curious face of the enemy
Who was young, and shabby, and seemed to be
About as foreign as you or me
I never did catch what the poor sod said
When he made sure we were dead
This was a couple of shakes before we got killed in the war