When the Sergeant-Major's
on Parade
Words and
Music by Ernest Longstaffe
Sung by Peter Dawson
Peter Dawson
(1882-1961) was a great Australian baritone, and one of the first recording
stars. The claim by
Russell Smith and
Peter Burgis that theirs is the first ever biography of Dawson is false;
my Dad, a great Dawson fan (he saw him perform) had an autobiography titled
something like My Life in Song — I may even have it among my books
somewhere, but my books are in chaos at the moment while I move workspaces.
Anyway, this
is a great Dawson favorite, recorded around 1925.
(Listen to the song)
When the sun is shining bright,
Dispelling all the dews of night,
With Sam Browne belt and buttons bright
Behold the Sergeant-Major!
Batman makes my army bed
And soon my boots a luster shed;
He turns me out from foot to head
A dapper Sergeant-Major!
Then woe to them that meet my eye;
They never do—they turn and fly!
When I'm here on parade in the square
How the folks passing by turn and stare,
For they say "This beats the band;
The way he handles the men is grand!"
When I shout
Birds fly out
Daisies fade;
I've a way that must be obeyed.
NCOs say I bite
While recruits die of fright
When the Sergeant-Major's on parade!
Eyes as keen as sparrow-hawk
Or like a lobster on a stalk,
No nudge or wink or smile or talk
Escapes the Sergeant-Major.
True, I've got a fearful name,
And folk say it's a crying shame;
They'd like to kill or halt or maim
That fiend, the Sergeant-Major.
But that's the proper Army style;
And now and then they see me smile.
When I'm here on parade in the square
How the folk passing by turn and stare,
For they say "This beats the band;
The way he handles the men is grand!"
When I shout
Birds fly out
Daisies fade;
I've a way that must be obeyed.
NCOs say I bite
While recruits die of fright
When the Sergeant-Major's on parade!
Pick 'em up! Pick 'em up, there!
What the, Where the, Who!
Pick 'em up! Pick 'em up, there!
Coal fatigue for you!
Left! Left! Left!
Is that the way we won Waterloo?
Come along, come along, there—
Jump to it, my lad!
If you don't, you'll hear me call
A spade a spade.
Left! Left! Party—'shun!
The Sergeant-Major's on parade!
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