[Verse 1]
When first I went to soldier with, rifle on my shoulder
There wasn't no one bolder in the corps, boys, oh
And when I walked abroad, all the pretty girls, they'd wink at me
The ladies can't resist a jolly soldier

[Chorus]
Bang upon the big drum, crash upon the cymbals
We'll sing as we go marching along boys, along
And although on this campaign
There's no Whiskey or Champagne
Still, we'll keep our spirits going with a song, boys

[Verse 2]
Now, when we got the route, and for India, we set out
The girls were crying round us to the docks, boys, oh
So we gave three hearty cheers, for the pretty little dears
In the hopes that each one got another soldier

[Chorus]
Bang upon the big drum, crash upon the cymbals
We'll sing as we go marching along boys, along
And although on this campaign
There's no Whiskey or Champagne
Still, we'll keep our spirits going with a song, boys
[Verse 3]
Then we marched through Khalasan and we met the wild Afghan
And made him at Karazia for to run boys, oh
And we marched into Kabul, and we took the Bala Hisar
And we made them respect the British soldier

[Chorus]
Bang upon the big drum, crash upon the cymbals
We'll sing as we go marching along boys, along
And although on this campaign
There's no Whiskey or Champagne
Still, we'll keep our spirits going with a song, boys

[Verse 4]
And now I'll say goodbye, for I'm feeling rather dry
And I see a comrade waiting with a song boys, oh
So here's good to luck all and promotion soon, and better money
That's the sort of ticket for a soldier

[Chorus]
Bang upon the big drum, crash upon the cymbals
We'll sing as we go marching along boys, along
And although on this campaign
There's no Whiskey or Champagne
Still, we'll keep our spirits going with a song, boys