W HO'S gwine to fight in de battle, in de battle?
Who's gwine to march wid de army ob de King?
Listen at de drums, how dey rattle, rattle, rattle:
Hark to de bullets, how dey sing!
Close up, saints, in de center!
Fall in, sinnahs, on de flanks!
'Tention! right dress! eyes front! steady! —
All stand quiet in de ranks.

Dat's right, men! keep a-standin', keep a-standin' —
Not a bit o' danger ob an immy behin':
De ahmy's at de front, an' ouah Gineral Commandin'
Has got out a pow'ful pickit-line!
Wait for yo' orders till dey come, den;
Keep up patience; rendah thanks
Dat you has nuflin fur to do — onless it's suffin
To stan' up waitin' in de ranks.

'Twon't be so long 'fore de orders, 'fore de orders —
Soon we'll be gittin' 'em — de orders to advance;
Den, ebry man in de column to his duty;
Show what's de value ob de chance!
Fight! an' we'll oberturn de debbil!
Fight! an' we'll hab de country's thanks!
An' all 'll git a pension an a' honorable mention,
What stood up steady in de ranks!