And we're dyin' in the wilderness the same as Isrulites

It's before us an' be'ind us an' we cannot get away

An' the doctor's just reported that we've ten more to-day

Oh strike your camp an' go the Bugle's callin'

The dead are bushed an' stoned to keep 'em safe below

The Band's a-doin' all they can to cheer us

O Lord for it's a-killin' of us so

Since August when it started it's been stickin' to our tail

Though they've 'ad us out by Marches and they've 'ad us back by rail

But it runs as fast as troop-trains and we cannot get away

An' the sick-list to the Colonel makes ten more to-day

And there ain't no fun in women and there ain't no bite to drink

It's much too wet for shootin' we can only March and think

An' at evenin' down the nullahs we can 'ear the jackals say

Get up you rotten beggars you've ten more to-day

Lieutenants takin' companies and captains takin' wings

Oh yes there's lots of promotion on ten deaths a day

But mucks about in 'orspital where nothing does no good

But there aren't much comfort 'andy on ten deaths a day

Our Chaplain he's got a banjo an' a skinny mule 'e rides

An' the stuff 'e says an' sings us Lord it makes us split our sides

With 'is black coat-tails a-bobbin' to Ta-ra-ra Boom-dee-ay

'E's the proper kind o' padre for ten deaths a day

It ain't no Christmas dinner but it's served an' we must eat

We've gone beyond the funkin' 'cause we've found it doesn't pay

An' we're rockin' round the Districk on ten deaths a day

So strike your camp an' go the Rains are fallin'

The Bugle's callin'

The dead are bushed an' stoned to keep 'em safe below

An' them that do not like it they can lump it

An' them that cannot stand it they can jump it

Se we might as well begin to do it now

So Number One let down the tent-pole slow

Furl up the ropes furl up the ropes an' stow