’E’s the only one wot got me—but I’ve ’eard ’em passin’ by,
God A’mighty! Yes, I’ve ’eard ’em passin’ by.
Passin’ by; passin’ by; with a little whistlin’ sigh,
“Nearly got you that time, Sonny, just a little bit too high,”
Or a crack like, “Jack, look out there: Keep yer ’ead down, mind yer eye!”
But they’re gone an’ far behind yer ’fore you’ll ’ear ’em passin’ by.
Yes, I lay from Toosday mornin’ till the Wensday afternoon;
’En the Black Watch took their trenches ’en it woke me from a swoon.
I was flamin’, nearly mad wi’ thirst an’ pain, an’ fit to cry,
But I cheered ’em as they trampled on me carcus, passin’ by.