Singing, and swearing, like a trooper

If you want to have a glimpse into the way soldiers think, talk and act then look no further at the songs they sing.

I am a reasonably well educated, well read, artistically inclined individual. I like the theatre, I enjoy talking to academic types and I sometimes think that I have taken in a small amount of high culture and art. In general, when I visit a city, the must see places for me are its museums and cathedral.

But when I wore a giggle hat, I happily went pure animal. This site showcases reams of tunes and ditties - and I've sung many of them in bars and boozers in the company of other grunts when I've had a beer or six. Or ten.

Here's a sample:

Oh they say there's a troopship just leaving Bombay

Bound for old Blighty's shore,

Heavily laden with time-expired men

Bound for the land they adore;

There's many a twat just finishing his time,

There's many a cunt signing on;

You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean,

So cheer up my lads, fuck 'em all!

Chorus:

Fuck 'em all!

Fuck 'em all!

The long and the short and the tall;

Fuck all the Sergeants and W.O.l.'s,

Fuck all the corporals and their bastard sons;

For we're saying goodbye to them all,

As up the C.O.'s arse they crawl;

You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean,

So cheer up my lads, fuck 'em all!

We didn't sing that exact song - the first verse was adjusted a bit, but the chorus always remains the same.

I suddenly feel like a few beers.