Man gets called away to his regiment (To serve with General Abercrombie in Egypt) and girl wants to follow him.
The Banks Of The Nile
Hark hark the drums do beat my love, and we must haste away
The bugle it is sounding, no longer can we stay
For I am bound for Egypt, it's manys the long mile
To join with Abercrombie, on the banks of the Nile
Oh Billy, dearest Billy, that words do break my heart
Pray let us then get married before that we do part
For the partin' o' my own true love is like partin' with my life
Oh stay at home dear Billy, make me your wedded wife
Oh Nancy, dearest Nancy, but that would never do
The government has ordered us, and we are bound to go
The King has ga'en his orders, the Captain's ga'en command
So we are bound to go my love, and serve some foreign land
Oh I'll cut off all my yellow hair, I'll go along with you
I'll volunteer my servitude, and go to Egypt too
In fighting for our banner love, kind fortune on us smile
And I'll be your faithful servant on the banks of the Nile
Your waist it is too slender, your complexion is too fine
Your constitution is too weak to stand the hard campaign
The sultry suns of Egypt, your precious life would spoil
On yon hot and sandy desert on the banks of the Nile
Oh cursed be the day, my love, that first the wars began
It's ta'en from bonnie Scotland many's the handsome man.
It's ta'en from us our lifeguards, protectors of our isle
And their bodies feed the worms, on the banks of the Nile
Let a hundred days be darkened, let the ladies give a sigh
'Twould rend the rocks of Aden to hear the wounded cry
Let a hundred days be brightned, then let the ladies smile
But remember Abercrombie on the banks of the Nile
