Any Private to Any Private

July 1917

(The speaker pointed out that owing to the number of young married men who were being killed,
widows were becoming a great burden to the State. – Daily Paper.)
(Our boys are wonderful. They are always able to laugh. – Daily Paper.)

Ay, gie’s ma rum. I’m needin’t sair, by God!
We’ve juist been bringin’ Wullie doun the line –
Wullie, that used tae be sae smairt an’ snod.
Hell! what a mess! Saft-nosed ane. Damn the swine!
They micht kill clean. I kent his auld fouk fine.
Ay, he was mairrit. Man, she’s spared a sicht.
Here, Dave, gie’s ower that blanket. Ay, that’s mine.
I kenna, hoo I canna lauch the nicht.

We gaed tae Tamson’s schule. A clever loon
Was Wullie. He was makin’ money tae.
A’body liked him round about the toun.
Fitba’? Losh, ay! He was a de’il tae play.
We joined thegither for a bob a day;
An’ noo he’s deid. Here, Davie, gie’s a licht.
They’ll pit it in the papers. Weel they may!
I kenna, hoo I canna lauch the nicht.

I canna mak’ it oot. It fair beats a’,
That Wullie has tae dee for God kens what.
An’ Wullie’s wife’ll get a bob or twa,
Aifter they interfere wi’ what she’s got .
They’ll pester her, and crack a dagoned lot;
An’ Heaven kens, they’ll lave her awfu’ ticht.
“A burden to the State.” Her Wullie’s shot.
I kenna, hoo I canna lauch the nicht.

Envoi

What’s that? Anither workin’ pairtie, noo,
At six? Ay, sergeant, I’ll be there a’ richt.
Weel, Wullie lad, they winna wauken you.
I kenna, hoo I canna lauch the nicht.