The Lancashire Lads - Old Blind Dogs

It was last Monday morning

Oh as I have heard them say

Our orders, they came this afternoon

We’re bound to march away

Chorus (after each verse):

For the Lancashire lads have gone abroad

Whatever shall we do?

They’re leaving many’s a pretty fair maid

To cry, «What shall I do?»

Said the mother to the daughter

«What makes you talk so strange?

That you want to marry a soldier lad

And the whole wide world to range

For the soldiers, they are ramblin' boys

They have but little pay

Can they maintain a wife and child

On fifteen pence day?"

Said the father to the daughter

«I'll have you close confined

You’ll never marry a soldier lad

He’ll be no son of mine»

«Oh if you confine me seven long years

And after set me free

I’ll go and I’ll follow m' soldier lad

When I gain my liberty

For my true love’s dressed in scarlet

And turned up with the blue

And every place that he goes in

My sweetheart is true"

Now we’ve gotten sweethearts enough, brave boys

Girls to please our minds

But we’ll never forget sweet Manchester

And the girls we left behind