Six Songs from 'A Shropshire Lad': V. The lads in their hundreds

Six Songs from 'A Shropshire Lad': V. The lads in their hundreds - Sir Thomas Allen/Geoffrey Parsons

The lads in their hundreds to

Ludlow come in for the fair

There's men from the barn and

The forge and the mill and the fold

The lads for the girls and the

Lads for the liquor are there

And there with the rest are the

Lads that will never be old

There's chaps from the town

And the field and the till and the cart

And many to count are the stalwart

And many the brave

And many the handsome of face

And the handsome of heart

And few that will carry their

Looks or their truth to the grave

I wish one could know them

I wish there were tokens to tell

The fortunate fellows that

Now you can never discern

And then one could talk with

Them friendly and wish them farewell

And watch them depart on the

Way that they will not return

But now you may stare as you like

And there's nothing to scan

And brushing your elbow unguessed

At and not to be told

They carry back bright to the

Coiner the mintage of man

The lads that will die in their

Glory and never be old