The Banks of the Nile (2014 Remaster) - Kris Drever

O hark the drums do beat my love

We can no longer tarry

The bugle calls are sounding

And we must march away

We're ordered down to Portsmouth town

For many a weary mile

To join the British Army on the banks of the Nile

O Willie dearest William

Don't leave me here to mourn

For I must curse and rue the day

That ever I was born

For parting from our love would be

Like parting from my life

So stay at home dear William

And I will be your wife

O my Nancy dearest Nancy

Sure that would never do

The government has ordered

And we are bound to go

The government has ordered

And the Queen she gives command

And I am bound away my love

To serve in a foreign land

Then I'll cut off my yellow hair

And go along with you

I'll dress myself in uniform

And I'll see Egypt too

I'll march beneath your banner

While fortune it do smile

And we'll comfort one another on the banks of the Nile

My curse attend the cruel war

And the hour that it began

For it has robbed our countrie of many a gallant man

They've robbed us of our sweethearts

Protectors of the soil

Their blood does steep the grass

That's deep on the banks of the Nile

And when the war is over love

Back home I'll then return

Until my wife and family

I've left behind to mourn

We'll take up the plough my boys

And till the fertile soil

No more we'll go a-roving on the banks of the Nile