On Furlough 1900

by James Pitt-Payne, London UK - 29 Oct 2011
2011

When a young man joins the army,
you will find that he's most willing,
To give up all his happiness
and take that wondrous shilling.
When he reads the regulations
then, says he: "I must be barmy
to give up all my liberties
and join the blooming army."
Then time goes on,
and he improves
gets perfect in his drilling;
His uniform fits him so nice
tho' wants a little filling.
When his conduct stripe he gets,
feels high as any steeple!
And then he'll beg for grant to leave
to go and see his people.

Out on furlough,
he looks smart and grand;
free from regulations
to live with his relations;
proud of the clothes he wears
a soldier bold whatho!
Eyes front.
On Furlough!

Now he's proud he's joined the army,
There's all his friends admiring!
How well he gets the bullseye
when with penny shot he's firing,
they slap him on the shoulder then,
and heartily bravoing
When with a little cane he's got
sword exercise he's showing
How his sweetheart swells with pride!
Says he: "I loves yer Lizzie!
Forgive me if I don't write much,
we soldiers are too busy."
Then she says: "You'll feel proud,
I'm making all my blouses
with pieces of red, white and blue,
to match your coat and trousers."

Out on furlough,
he looks smart and grand;
free from regulations
to live with his relations;
proud of the clothes he wears
a soldier bold whatho!
Eyes front.
On Furlough!

How soon the fatal day arrives,
and when his leave he's taking,
They buy him pipes and pouches too,
His hand they won't cease shaking;
How sorrowful they seem to be,
their find hearts want consoling;
They'll give him coins
to bring him luck
such as pennies with a hole in.
When he gets back to duty soon
some wrongs there are want righting;
so off he's sent
with his regiment
to show his pluck in fighting
Perhaps gets wounded in the fray,
Still he fights while it's needed,
and when he's broken in the war,
he's sent home invalided.

Out on furlough,
arm tied in a sling,
Pain may have been fearful
but still he looks as cheerful;
Back to the front again,
he says he wants to go.
Bravo!
On Furlough!

Soft karaoke
Words
piano 1
piano 2
piano 3
piano 4
lyric
pizz str bass
*
On Furlough 1900
by Walter Tilbury
arr. by H.E.Pether
Lyrics by Sam Richards
© MCM by Francis, Day & Hunter
*
The Theatrical Singing Rights of this song for the U.S.
have been reserved for Vesta Tilley.
*
sequence & karaoke by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Saturday 29 October 2011 at 09.13
in association with Veda Meyer-Castens
*