I'LL MAKE A MAN OF YOU
(Music & Lyrics: Arthur Wimperis & Herman Finck)


Gwendoline Brogden - 1914
Clara Beck - 1914
Unknown Singer (feat. in the London Stage Production "Oh, What A Lovely War!) - 1963
Barbara Windsor (feat. in the Broadway Production) - 1964
Maggie Smith (feat. in the film "Oh, What A Lovely War!") - 1969







As performed by MAGGIE SMITH 
(with DAVID LODGE) in the 1969 film production:


SMITH:
The Army and the Navy need attention
The outlook isn't healthy you'll admit
But I've a perfect dream of a new recruiting scheme
Which I really think is absolutely it
If only other girls would do as I do
I believe that we could manage it alone
For I turn all suitors from me, but the Sailor and the Tommy
I've an Army and a Navy of my own

On Sunday I walk out with a Soldier
Monday I'm taken by a Tar
Tuesday I'm out with a baby Boy Scout
On Wednesday a Hussar
On Thursday I gang out wi' a Scottie
On Friday the Captain of the crew
But on Saturday I'm willing if you'll only take the shilling
To make a man of any one of you

I teach the tenderfoot to face the powder
That gives an added lustre to my skin
And I show the raw recruit how to give a chaste salute
So when I'm presenting arms, he's falling in
It makes you almost proud to be a woman
When you make a strapping soldier of a kid
And he says, "You put me through it and I didn't want to do it
But you went and made me love you, so I did!"

On Sunday I walk out with a Bosun
On Monday a Rifleman in green
On Tuesday I choose a Sub in the Blues
On Wednesday a Marine
On Thursday a Terrier from Tooting
On Friday a Midshipman or two
But on Saturday I'm willing if you'll only take the shilling
To make a man of any one of you

Come on lads, we need a million (Million!)
Be a man, enlist today (Enlist today!)
Have your man digging your garden
When he should be digging trenches (He should be digging trenches!)
Are there any able-bodied men in the house?
'Cause on Saturday I'm willing if you'll only take the shilling
To make a man of any one of you

LODGE: Now you heard what the lovely lady said, we need a million of you
SMITH: Able-bodied men
LODGE: Come along my lucky lads, take the King's shilling, we'll make a man of you
SMITH: I'll turn you into a man
LODGE: Give you the time of your life
SMITH: I'll give you the time of your life
(CHORUS GIRLS: We'll give you the time of your life)

LODGE: 
A kiss, a kiss from this lovely lady for the first man to volunteer
Do you, Sir? How about you, Sir? 
That's right, Sir!  Why, step forward, Sir!
Step forward, Sir! That's right, my lucky lads

SMITH:
Come on lads, you heard what I said, we need a million of you
That's right, boys, up you come
LODGE:
More gallant men have stepped up
You, Sir! Make your girlfriend proud of you
Be a hero and step forward, Sir!
One young lady still left unescorted
You, Sir! You may be fat and forty, Sir 
But your Country needs you, come and join the Army!

SMITH:
'Cause on Saturday I'm willing if you'll only take the shilling
To make a man of any one of you
(To make a man of any one of you)






(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - July 2014)