Oh! It's A Lovely War 1917

Dr. Pitt-Payne in London UK - 25 Nov 2002

Up to your waist in water,
up to your eyes in slush,
using the kind of language,
that makes the sergeant blush;
who wouldn't join the army?
That's what we all enquire,
don't we pity the poor civilians
sitting beside the fire.

Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war,
who wouldn't be a soldier eh?
Oh! It's a shame to take the pay.
As soon as "reveille" has gone
we feel just as heavy as lead,
but we never get up till the sergeant
brings our breakfast up to bed.
Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war,
what do we want with eggs and ham
when we've got plum and apple jam?
Form fours! Right turn!
How shall we spend the money we earn?
Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war.

Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war,
who wouldn't be a soldier eh?
Oh! It's a shame to take the pay.
As soon as "reveille" has gone
we feel just as heavy as lead,
but we never get up till the sergeant
brings our breakfast up to bed.
Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war,
what do we want with eggs and ham
when we've got plum and apple jam?
Form fours! Right turn!
How shall we spend the money we earn?
Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war.

When does a soldier grumble?
When does he make a fuss?
No one is more contented
in all the world than us;
Oh! It's a "cushy" life, boys,
really we love it so,
Once a fellow was sent on leave
and simply refused to go.

Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war,
who wouldn't be a soldier eh?
Oh! It's a shame to take the pay.
As soon as "reveille" has gone
we feel just as heavy as lead,
but we never get up till the sergeant
brings our breakfast up to bed.
Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war,
what do we want with eggs and ham
when we've got plum and apple jam?
Form fours! Right turn!
How shall we spend the money we earn?
Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war.

Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war,
who wouldn't be a soldier eh?
Oh! It's a shame to take the pay.
As soon as "reveille" has gone
we feel just as heavy as lead,
but we never get up till the sergeant
brings our breakfast up to bed.
Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war,
what do we want with eggs and ham
when we've got plum and apple jam?
Form fours! Right turn!
How shall we spend the money we earn?
Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war.

Come to the Cookhouse door boys,
sniff at the lovely stew.
Who is it says the Col'nel
gets better grub than you?
Any complaints this morning?
Do we complain? Not we...
What's the matter with lumps of onion
floating around on tea?

Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war,
who wouldn't be a soldier eh?
Oh! It's a shame to take the pay.
As soon as "reveille" has gone
we feel just as heavy as lead,
but we never get up till the sergeant
brings our breakfast up to bed.
Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war,
what do we want with eggs and ham
when we've got plum and apple jam?
Form fours! Right turn!
How shall we spend the money we earn?
Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war.

Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war,
who wouldn't be a soldier eh?
Oh! It's a shame to take the pay.
As soon as "reveille" has gone
we feel just as heavy as lead,
but we never get up till the sergeant
brings our breakfast up to bed.
Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war,
what do we want with eggs and ham
when we've got plum and apple jam?
Form fours! Right turn!
How shall we spend the money we earn?
Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war.

Soft karaoke
Words
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lyric line
bass
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Oh! It's A Lovely War 1917
by J. P. Long and Maurice Scott
copyright 1917 by B. Feldman and Co. Ltd., London
sequence and karaoke by Dr. Pitt-Payne in London UK
on Monday 25 November 2002 at 11.12
in association with Doug Grierson
*