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The Toy Band

A Song of the Great Retreat

Dreary lay the long road, dreary lay the town,Lights out and never a glint o' moon:Weary lay the stragglers, half a thousand down,Sad sighed the weary big Dragoon."Oh! if I'd a drum here to make them take the road again,Oh! if I'd a fife to wheedle, Come, boys, come!You that mean to fight it out, wake and take your load again,Fall in! Fall in! Follow the fife and drum!
"Hey, but here's a toy shop, here's a drum for me,Penny whistles too to play the tune!Half a thousand dead men soon shall bear and seeWe're a band!" said the weary big Dragoon."Rubadub! Rubadub! Wake and take the road again,Wheedle-deedle-deedle-dee, Come, boys, come!You that mean to fight it out, wake and take your load again,Fall in! Fall in! Follow the fife and drum!"

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