OLD KING COLE
(Original Version)


Now Old King Cole was a merry old soul and a merry old soul was he
He called for is pipe in the middle of the night and he called for
his Gunners three.

Beer Beer Beer said the Gunners,
Merry merry men are we;
There's none so fair as can compare with the Royal Artillery.

Now Old King Cole was a merry old soul and a merry old soul was he
He called for is pipe in the middle of the night and he called for
his Bombardiers three.

Bubble Line Level Line Bubble said the Bombardier
Beer Beer Beer said the Gunners,
Merry merry men are we;
There's none so fair as can compare with the Royal Artillery

Now Old King Cole was a merry old soul and a merry old soul was he
He called for is pipe in the middle of the night and he called for
his Sergeants three

Move to the right in Threes said the Sergeant
Bubble Line Level Line Bubble said the Bombardier
Beer Beer Beer said the Gunners,
Merry merry men are we;
There's none so fair as can compare with the Royal Artillery

Now Old King Cole was a merry old soul and a merry old soul was he
He called for is pipe in the middle of the night and he called for
his Sar-Majors three

Charge that man said the Sergeant Major
Move to the right in Threes said the Sergeant
Bubble Line Level Line Bubble said the Bombardier
Beer Beer Beer said the Gunners,
Merry merry men are we;
There's none so fair as can compare with the Royal Artillery

Now Old King Cole was a merry old soul and a merry old soul was he
He called for is pipe in the middle of the night and he called for
his Subalterns three

I do all the work said the Subaltern
Charge that man said the Sergeant Major
Move to the right in Threes said the Sergeant
Bubble Line Level Line Bubble said the Bombardier
Beer Beer Beer said the Gunners,
Merry merry men are we;
There's none so fair as can compare with the Royal Artillery

Now Old King Cole was a merry old soul and a merry old soul was he
He called for is pipe in the middle of the night and he called for
his Captains three.

When do I get my leave said the Captain
I do all the work said the Subaltern
Charge that man said the Sergeant Major
Move to the right in Threes said the Sergeant
Bubble Line Level Line Bubble said the Bombardier
Beer Beer Beer said the Gunners,
Merry merry men are we;
There's none so fair as can compare with the Royal Artillery

Now Old King Cole was a merry old soul and a merry old soul was he
He called for is pipe in the middle of the night and he called for
his Majors three.

Where have you put my Guns said the Major?
When do I get my leave said the Captain
I do all the work said the Subaltern
Charge that man said the Sergeant Major
Move to the right in Threes said the Sergeant
Bubble Line Level Line Bubble said the Bombardier
Beer Beer Beer said the Gunners,
Merry merry men are we;
There's none so fair as can compare with the Royal Artillery

Now Old King Cole was a merry old soul and a merry old soul was he
He called for is pipe in the middle of the night and he called for
his Colonels three.

Blah, Blah, Blah said the Colonel
Where have you put my Guns said the Major?
When do I get my leave said the Captain
I do all the work said the Subaltern
Charge that man said the Sergeant Major
Move to the right in Threes said the Sergeant
Bubble Line Level Line Bubble said the Bombardier
Beer Beer Beer said the Gunners,
Merry merry men are we;
There's none so fair as can compare with the Royal Artillery

Now Old King Cole was a merry old soul and a merry old soul was he
He called for is pipe in the middle of the night and he called for
his Padres three.

God save our gracious Queen said the Padre
Blah, Blah, Blah said the Colonel
Where have you put my Guns said the Major?
When do I get my leave said the Captain
I do all the work said the Subaltern
Charge that man said the Sergeant Major
Move to the right in Threes said the Sergeant
Bubble Line Level Line Bubble said the Bombardier
Beer Beer Beer said the Gunners,
Merry merry men are we;
There's none so fair as can compare with the Royal Artillery.


*****


OLD KING COLE
(Modern Version)
(Words and Music by : from "Sound Off" by Edward Arthur Dolph, copyright 1929)
Harry Belafonte


Old King Cole was a merry old soul
And a merry old soul was he
Called for his pipe
And he called for his bowl
And he called for his privates three

"Beer, beer, beer", said the privates
Merry men are we
There's none so fair as can compare
With the Fighting Infantry

Old King Cole was a merry old soul
And a merry old soul was he
Called for his pipe
And he called for his bowl
And he called for his corporals three

Hup two said the corporals
Beer, beer, beer said the privates
Merry men are we
There's none so fair as can compare
With the Fighting Infantry

Old King Cole was a merry old soul
And a merry old soul was he
Called for his pipe
And he called for his bowl
And he called for his sergeants three

Yeahhhhh, said the sergeants
Hup two said the corporals
Beer, beer, beer said the privates
Merry men are we
There's none so fair as can compare
With the Fighting Infantry

Old King Cole was a merry old soul
And a merry old soul was he
Called for his pipe
And he called for his bowl

And he called for his shavetails three

We do all the work said the shavetails
Yeahhhh, said the sergeants
March you dump watch said the corporals
Beer, beer, beer said the privates
Merry men are we
There's none so fair as can compare
With the Fighting Infantry

Old King Cole was a merry old soul
And a merry old soul was he
Called for his pipe
And he called for his bowl
And he called for his captains three

Oh don't be late for the dance said the captains
We do all the work, said the shavetails
Yeahhhhh said the sergeants
March to the guardhouse said the corporals
Beer, beer, beer said the privates
Merry men are we
There's none so fair as can compare
With the Fighting Infantry

Old King Cole was a merry old soul
And a merry old soul was he
Called for his pipe
And he called for his bowl
And he called for his chaplains three

Oh what a bloody mess, amen amen hallelujah
Oh don't be late for the dance, said the captains
We do all the work, said the shavetails
Yeahhhh said the sergeants
Put it in a bucket said the corporals
Beer, beer, beer said the privates
Merry men are we
There's none so fair as can compare
With the Fighting Infantry

Old King Cole was a merry old soul
And a merry old soul was he
Called for his pipe
And he called for his bowl
And he called for his colonels three

Oh what a lovely war, said the colonels
Oh what a bloody mess, amen, amen hallelujah
Oh don't be late for the dance said the captains
We do al the work said the shavetails
Yeahhhhh said the sergeants
March to the end said the corporals
Beer, beer, beer said the privates
Merry men are we
There's none so fair as can compare
With the Fighting Infantry

Old King Cole was a merry old soul
And a merry old soul was he
Called for his pipe
And he called for his bowl
And he called for his generals three

Thuh, thuh, Oh come on fellahs, give a fellah break,
Uh what's my next command said the generals
Oh what a lovely war said the colonels
Oh what a bloody mess, amen,
Oh what a bloody mess said the captains
Oh what a bloody mess, said the shavetails
Oh what a bloody mess, said the sergeants
Oh what a bloody mess said the sergeants
Beer, beer, beer said the privates
Merry men are we
There's none so fair as can compare
With the Fighting Infantry 



(Contributed by Nancy - October 2003)

an alternate chorus)

“The Army’s gone to hell,” said the generals; 
“What’s my next command?” said the colonels 
“Where’re my boots and spurs?” said the majors; 
“We want ten days’ leave,” said the captains; 
“We do all the work,” said the shavetails; 
“Right by squads, squads right,” said the sergeants; 
“One two, one two, one,” said the corporals; 
“Beer, Beer, beer,” said the privates, 
“Merry men are we. 
There’s none so fair as can compare 
With the Fighting Infantry.”