Fotheringay - Banks of the Nile lyrics

Oh hark! The drums do beat, my love, no longer can we stay The bugle-horns are sounding clear, and we must march away We're 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 we'll 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