G                         Em
I had a first cousin called Arthur McBride
       C        G           A          C
He and I took a stroll down by the sea side
  G            C           G            Em
A seeking good fortune and what might betide
      G           D         G
'Twas just as the day was a dawning
G                            Em
After resting we both took a tramp
   C            G          A        C
We met Sergeant Harper and Corporal Cramp
   G            C           G           Em
Besides the wee drummer who beat up for camp
         G         D          G
With his rowdy dow dow in the morning

[Verse 2]
     G                      Em
Says he me young fellows if you will enlist
  C          G       A            C
A guinea you quickly have in your fist
    G        C            G        Em
Likewise the crown for to kick the dust
    G                D             G
And drink the king's health in the morning
      G                  Em
For a soldier he leads a very fine life
   C         G              A              C
He always is blessed with a charming young wife
       G            C             G         Em
And he pays all his debts without sorrow or strife
    G            D         G
And always lives happy and charming

[Verse 3]
   G                       Em
Ah now me bold sergeant we are not for sale
      C            G             A            C
We'll make no such bargain, your bribe won't avail
          G            C          G             Em
We're not tired of our country we don't care to sail
   G               D        G
Although that your offer is charming
       G                        Em
And if we were such fools as to take the advance
     C            G             A           C
This right bloody slander would be our poor chance
        G              C          G          Em
For the Queen wouldn't scruple to send us to France
      G           D            G
Where we would be shot without warning

[Verse 4]
   G                          Em
He says me young fellows if I hear but one word
   C        G        A           C
I instantly now will out with my sword
    G         C       G               Em
And into your body as strength will afford
   G          D            G
So now my gay devils take warning
    G               Em
But Arthur and I we took in the odds
   C            G             A                C
We gave them no chance for to launch out their swords
    G            C            G          Em
Our whacking shillelaghs came over their heads
    G               D            G
And paid them right smart in the morning

[Verse 5]
   G                      Em
As for the wee drummer we rifled his pouch
       C            G           A         C
And we made a foot- ball of his rowdy dow dow
    G        C        G           Em
And into the ocean to rock and to roll
    G         D       G
And bade it a tedious returning
   G                       Em
As for the old rapier that hung by his side
   C           G         A            C
We flung it as far as we could in the tide
       G       C             G      Em
To the devil I pitch you sez Arthur McBride
   G           D            G
To temper your steel in the morning