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Durham Militia

by The Halliard

on Broadside Songs (2005)

You are going to be a militia-man a valliant volunteer
You think it will be a lazy month and get your swig of beer
You'll fight your battles or a pipe and n'er receive a scar
You're a dandy fop at home you'll stop and never go to war

For the Durham Warriors are the boys
That gallup to the fight
By drinking beer and cuddling girls
All the live long night

When you wear your trousers grey and your coat of red and blue
(And? he?) may forget my boys what we may think of you
Your musket's wrong side upwards and your bayonet who knows where
You'll march away like heroes to make the lasses stare

For the Durham Warriors are the boys
That gallup to the fight
By drinking beer and cuddling girls
All the live long night

Trumpet sounds for glory you go gladly rushing in
To some snug old alehouse to spend you hard-earned tin
When the money is all gone you'll coax the girls to treat
Whispering marriage in their ears and giving them kisses sweet

For the Durham Warriors are the boys
That gallup to the fight
By drinking beer and cuddling girls
All the live long night

The captain gives the order you line up and in your ranks
The alehouse has been emptied and the lardlord gives his thanks
For them foes may tremble should the trumpets sound the charge
And Durham town is sick and tired of militia-men at large

For the Durham Warriors are the boys
That gallup to the fight
By drinking beer and cuddling girls
All the live long night

If I would say our gracious queen or Good Lord see him as well
And send these would-be warriors to a place I dare not tell
Durham town would be at peace and the rascals who compose
Durham's volunteer brigade would never leave their homes

For the Durham Warriors are the boys
That gallup to the fight
By drinking beer and cuddling girls
All the live long night

You are going to be a militia-man a valliant volunteer
You think it will be a lazy month and get your swig of beer
You'll fight your battles or a pipe and n'er receive a scar
You're a dandy fop at home you'll stop and never go to war

For the Durham Warriors are the boys
That gallup to the fight
By drinking beer and cuddling girls
All the live long night