I am an old Soldier with hair iron grey
My mem'ry's not bad tho' I'm sixty today
Or else sixty two… I can't be sixty four
Well, maybe I am, but I'm not a day more.
I can reckon it out, I was born in… dear me!
Why at that rate I must be turned seventythree
Dear me, this confusion it makes me upset
Why I'm eighty, I think… I forget, I forget!
Only loved once, 'twas a girl called Elaine
Elaine or Priscilla, no! Perhaps it was Jane
However, one evening my brain in a whirl
I went to her father and asked for the girl.
Said he “Which girl is it? for I possess three”
I said “Gladys Maud is the best girl for me”
Now did he consent in a tone of regret
Or say “Take the three?”… I forget, I forget!
I first joined the Army in seventeen ten
No, that can't be right for I wasn't born then
'Twas eighteen six three, wrong again, it was no
That's somebody's telephone number I know
They asked me what regiment I'd like to choose
Would I join the Hussars? I said “No, the Who's?”
'Twas with General Buller, we captured De Wet
Or did he catch us?... I forget, I forget!
Ah! well! I suppose that I get very old
And I'm not so much use in the Army I'm told
So I just jog along as the days come and go
And wait for the call that is coming I know
When the final halt comes, and I hear the last call
That comes from the Greatest Commander of all
Then whatever there is in the past to regret
I shall hand up my sword and just hope He'll forget.