How are you, boys? I'm just from camp
And feel as brave as Caesar
The sound of bugle drum and fife
Has raised my ebeneezer.
I'm full of fight, odds shot and shell,
I'll leap into the saddle
And when the Yankees see me come,
Lord how they will skedaddle!
Hold your head up, Shanghai Shanks,
Don't shake your knees and blink so;
It is no time to dodge the act
Brave comrades, don't you think so?

I was a ploughboy in the field,
A gawky lazy didger,
When came the conscript officer
And took me for a sodger.
He put a musket in my hand
And showed me how to fire it,
I marched and counter-marched all day.
Lord, how I did admire it!
Hold your head up, Shanghai Shanks,
Don't shake your knees and blink so;
It is no time to dodge the act
Brave comrades, don't you think so?

With corn and hog fat for my food,
And digging,guarding, drilling,
I got as thin as twice-skimmed milk
And was scarcely worth the killing.
And now I'm used to homely fare,
My skin as tough as leather,
I do guard duty cheerfully
In any kind of weather.

"Tis true I have not seen a fight
Nor have I smelt gunpowder,
But then the way I'll pepper them
Will be a sin to chowder.
A sergeant's stripes I now will sport,
Perhaps be colour-bearer,
And then a captain--good for me,
I'll be a regular tearer.

I'll then begin to wear the stars
And then the wreaths of glory,
Until the army I command,
And poets sing my story.
Our Congress will pass votes of thanks
To him thast rose from zero;
The people in a mass will shout,
"Hurrah! Behold the hero!"
Hold your head up, Shanghai Shanks,
Don't shake your knees and blink so;
It is no time to dodge the act
Brave comrades, don't you think so?

(He fires his gun by accident)
What's that?
What's that?Oh dear! A boiler's burst!
A gaspipe has exploded!
Maybe the Yankees are hard by with
Muskets ready loaded.
Oh gallant soldiers, beat 'em back.
I'll join you in the frolic
But I've a chill from head to foot,
And symptoms of the colic.
Hold your head up, Shanghai Shanks,
Don't shake your knees and blink so;
It is no time to dodge the act
Brave comrades, don't you think so?