Pick Up Tha' Musket - Stanley Holloway

It occurred on the evening before Waterloo

As troops were lined up on parade

And sergeant inspecting them he were a terror

Of whom every man were afraid

All excepting one man

Who was in the front rank

A man by the name of Sam Small

And he and the sergeant were both daggers drawn

They thought now of each other at all

As sergeant walked past he was swinging his arms

And he happened to brush against Sam

And knocking this musket clean out of is hand

It fell in the ground with a slam

Pick it up said sergeant abrupt like but cool

But Sam with a shake of this head

Said seeing as that knocked it out of my hand

Perhaps tha'll pick the thing up instead

Sam Sam pick up that musket

The sergeant exclaimed with a roar

Sam said that knocked it down reasoning

Tha'll pick it up or it stays where this on the floor

The sound of high words very soon reached

The ears of an officer Lieutenant Bird

Who says to the sergeant

Now what's all this there

And the sergeant told what had occurred

Sam Sam pick up the musket

Lieutenant exclaimed with some heat

Sam says he knocked it down reasoning he picks it up

Or it stays where it is at my feet

It caused quite a stir when the Captain arrived

To find out the 'cause of the trouble

And every man there all excepting old Sam

Was full of excitement and bubble

Sam Sam pick up the musket

Said Captain for strictness renowned

Sam says he knocked it down reasoning he picks it up

Or it stays where it is on the ground

The same thing occurred when the Major and Colonel

Both tried to get Sam to see sense

But when old Duke of Wellington came into view

Well then the excitement was tense

Up rode the Duke on a lovely white horse

To find out the 'cause of the bother

He looked at the musket and then at old Sam

And he talked to old sam like a brother

Sam Sam pick up the musket the Duke

Said as quiet as could be

Sam Sam Sam Sam pick up the musket

Come on lead just to please me

All right Duke says old Sam just for thee I'll oblige

And to show thee I meant no offence

So Sam picked it up gradely lead said the Duke

Righto boys let battle commence