SOLDIER ON

 

Join the Army. Learn a trade
Adventure, travel and get paid
They’re the lies you’re fed upon
And like a sucker, you sign on

Then when they’ve got you in their grip
Where are those smiles, that comradeship?
Where are those helpful friendly types?
Who is this devil with three stripes?

Then you’re issued with your kit
A uniform that doesn’t fit
Braces left and braces right
One holdall to be scrubbed snow white

One webbing belt with brasses black
One valise and one small pack
Pouches ‘Basic’, Buckles ‘D’
Shirts of khaki issue three

Boots, ammunition thick with grease
“Ain’t it ever gonna cease?”
“Ah, at last, I thinks it’s through”
I’ll ask the sergeant what to do

He looks at you as if you’re mad
“Yer see that kit, well clean it lad”
Followed by another word
The strangest that you’ve ever heard

You look at him with quaking heart
“But I don’t know just where to start”
The sergeant groans and starts to swear
“Yer see that kit and webbing there?”

“Well scrub it ‘til it looks like new
And you can scrub the wash-house too
Then in the morning on the dot
I’ll come and inspect the blinking lot”

And so begins your new career
In this unfriendly atmosphere
You think of home, your comfy bed
And wish and wish that you were dead

The months roll by – you work and how
Let’s look in and see you now
Drill parades and kit inspections
Brasses bulled to high perfection

Weapons training and P.T.
Life’s an endless misery
“Squad attention” and “Stand at ease”
Obeying orders such as these

Then in some dreary office job
You count the days till your demob
How hopeless it all seems to you
You find that you’ve got months to do

But then one day (don’t say I told yer)
Some bloke will say “Hello old soldier”
Then you like me will feel at ease
Because you’re nearing your release

Then you can grip the other lads
About the smashing times you’ve had
About the service you have seen
And all the places you have been

Then you can say “Wipe off that frown”
“Don’t let the army get you down”
“Stick to it lad, keep smiling through”
“I’ve only got one day to do”