Banks Of The Nile

Banks Of The Nile - Fotheringay

Oh hark the drums do beat

My love no longer can we stay

The bugle-horns are sounding clear

And we must march away

Were ordered down to portsmouth

And it's many is the weary mile

To join the british army

On the banks of the nile

Oh willie dearest willie

Don't leave me here to mourn

Don't make me curse and rue

The day that ever I was born

For the parting of our love

Would be like parting with my life

So stay at home my dearest love

And I will be your wife

Oh my nancy dearest nancy

Sure that will never do

The government has ordered

And we are bound to go

The government has ordered

And the queen she gives command

And I am bound on oath my love

To serve in a foreign land

Oh but I'll cut off my yellow hair

And I'll go along with you

I'll dress myself in uniform

And I'll see egypt too

I'll march beneath your banner

While fortune it do smile

And well comfort one another

On the banks of the nile

But your waist it is too slender

And your fingers they are too small

In the sultry suns of egypt your

Rosy cheeks would spoil

Where the cannons they do rattle

When the bullets they do fly

And the silver trumpets sound

So loud to hide the dismal cries

Oh cursed be those cruel wars

That ever they began

For they have robbed our country

Of manys the handsome men

They've robbed us of our sweethearts

While their bodies they feed the lions

On the dry and sandy deserts which

Are the banks of the nile