We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Arthur McBride

from New Home by Thomas McCallum

/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $2 CAD  or more

     

  • Buy the Full Digital Album

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 4 Thomas McCallum releases available on Bandcamp and save 15%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of New Home, Carol of the Birds, Many A Long Hour, and Crocus Song. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $24.22 CAD or more (15% OFF)

     

about

Irish traditional, with significant debts to P. Brady and A. Tuck.

lyrics

Oh, me and my cousin one Arthur McBride
As we went a-walking down by the seaside
Now mark what followed and what did betide
For it being on Christmas morning

Out for recreation we went on a tramp
And we met sergeant Napper and corporal Vamp
And the little wee drummer intending to camp
The day being pleasant and charming

"Oh, Good morning, good morning, " the sergeant did cry
"And the same to you gentlemen, " we did reply
Intending no harm but to let them pass by
The day being Christmas morning
"Oh, now" says the sergeant, "if you would enlist
It's ten guineas of gold I will slip in your fist
And a crown in the bargain for to kick up the dust
And drink the king's health in the morning

For a soldier he leads a very fine life
And he always is blessed with a charming young wife
And he pays all his debts without sorrow and strife
And always lives pleasant and charming
And a soldier he always is decent and clean
In the finest of clothing he is constantly seen
While other poor fellows go dirty and mean
And sup on thin gruel in the morning"

But says Arthur, "I wouldn't be proud of your clothes
For you've only the lend of them as I suppose
And you dare not change them one night for you know
If you do you'll be flogged in the morning
And although that we are single and free
We take great delight in our own company
And we have no desire strange faces to see
Although that your offers are charming

And we have no desire to take your advance
All hazards and dangers we barter on chance
For you'd have no scruples for to send us to France
Where we would get shot without warning"

"Oh now, " says the sergeant, "I'll have no such chat
And I neither will take it from small penal brats
For if you insult me with one other word
I'll cut off your heads in the morning"

And then Arthur and I we soon drew our hods
And we scarce gave them time for to draw their own blades
When a trusty shillelagh come over their heads
And bade them take that as fair warning
And the old rusty rapiers that hung by their sides
We flung them as far as we could in the tide
"Now we take them out, devils!" cried Arthur McBride
"And temper their edge in the morning"

And the little wee drummer we flattened his bow
And we made a football of his rowdy-dow-dow
Threw it in the tide for to rock and to roll
And bade it a tedious returning
And we haven't no money paid them off in cracks
And we paid no respect to their two bloody backs
For we lathered them there like a pair of wet sacks
And left them for dead in the morning

And so to conclude and to finish disputes
We obligingly asked if they wanted recruits
For we were the lads who would give them hard clouts
And bade them look sharp in the morning

Oh, me and my cousin one Arthur McBride
As we went a-walking down by the seaside
Now mark what followed and what did betide
For it being on Christmas morning

credits

from New Home, released December 15, 2022

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Thomas McCallum image

Thomas McCallum Halifax, Nova Scotia

Thomas McCallum is a singer-songwriter from Six Mile Brook, NS. His first album, "Many A Long Hour," features nine original songs. He released a five song EP, "Crocus Song," in 2014.

contact / help

Contact Thomas McCallum

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Thomas McCallum, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring Riley Pinkerton (aka The Rat Queen) from the theatrical NYC rockers, Castle Rat.
listen now