Bless 'Em All

There's many a troopship just leavin' Bombay

Bound for old Blighty's shore;

Heavily laden with time-expired men

Bound for the land they adore.

There's many a soldier just finished 'is time

And many a twerp signin' on;

They'll get no promotion this side of the ocean

So cheer up my lads, bless 'em all

Bless 'em all! Bless 'em all!

The long and the short and the tall

Bless all the sergents and WO/1s

Bless all the corporals and their blinkin' sons

For we're sayin' goodbye to 'em all

As back to the barracks they crawl,

You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean

So cheer up my lads, bless 'em all

They say if you work hard you'll get better pay

We've 'eard it all before;

Clean up your buttons and polish your boots

Scrup out the barrack-room floor

There's many a swaddie 'as taken it in

'Ook line and sinker and all

You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean

So cheer up my lads, bless 'em all

Bless 'em all! Bless 'em all!

The long and the short and the tall

Bless all the sergents and WO/1s

Bless all the corporals and their blinkin' sons

For we're sayin' goodbye to 'em all

As back to the barracks they crawl,

You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean

So cheer up my lads, bless 'em all

They say that the sergeant's a very nice bloke

Oh what a tale to tell.

Ask 'im for leave on a Saturday night

'E'll pay yer fare 'ome as well.

There's many a swaddie 'as blighted 'is life

Through writing rude words on the wall,

You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean

So cheer up my lads, bless 'em all

Bless 'em all! Bless 'em all!

The long and the short and the tall

Bless all the sergents and WO/1s

Bless all the corporals and their blinkin' sons

For we're sayin' goodbye to 'em all

As back to the barracks they crawl,

You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean

So cheer up my lads, bless 'em all

Officers don't worry me,

Officers don't worry me;

Bell-bottom trousers with stripes down the side

Whacking great pockets with damn-all inside

But we're saying goodby to them all

As back to their billings they crawl,

You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean

So cheer up my lads, bless 'em all

Bless 'em all! Bless 'em all!

The long and the short and the tall

Bless all the sergents and WO/1s

Bless all the corporals and their blinkin' sons

For we're sayin' goodbye to 'em all

As back to the barracks they crawl,

You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean

So cheer up my lads, bless 'em all