The Jolly Beggars : I am a son of Mars
A song by Robert Burns, written in 1785.
I am a son of Mars who have been in many wars,
And show my cuts and scars wherever I come;
This here was for a wench, and that other in a trench,
When welcoming the French at the sound of the drum.
My Prenticeship I past where my Leader breath'd his last,
When the bloody die was cast on the heights of Abram;
And I served out my Trade when the gallant game was play'd,
And the Moro low was laid at the sound of the drum.
I lastly was with Curtis among the floating batt'ries,
And there I left for witness, an arm and a limb;
Yet let my Country need me, with Elliot to head me,
I'd clatter on my stumps at the sound of a drum.
And now tho' I must beg, with a wooden arm and leg,
And many a tatter'd rag hanging over by bum,
I'm as happy with my wallet, my bottle and my Callet,
As when I us'd in scarlet to follow a drum.
What tho', with hoary locks, I must stand the winter shocks,
Beneath the woods and rocks oftentimes for a home,
When the tother bag I sell and the tother bottle tell,
I could meet a troop of Hell at the sound of a drum.
Duration:
This clip is from
Featured in...
Works read by Douglas Henshall—The works of Robert Burns
All his recordings from the 250th anniversary project.
Works written in 1785—The works of Robert Burns
Most Burns works can be attributed to a specific year.
More clips from The works of Robert Burns
-
He Till't and She Till't
Duration: 00:17
-
The Heron Ballads : Wham will we send to London town
Duration: 02:16
-
Sic a wife as Willie's Wife
Duration: 01:17
-
To Robert Graham of Fintry Esq
Duration: 05:55