An’ I want to tell yer ’ow It’s the ’orses gets us through, For they strains their blooming ’earts out when they’re pressed. We was galloping like ’ell When a bullet ’its old Bill, I c’d see the blood a-streaming down ’is face. It ’ad got ’im in the ’ead, But ’e stuck to it and led Till we comes to “Action right,” An’ then ’e fell.
I ’adn’t time to choose I ’ad to cut ’im loose, For ’e’d done all ’e c’d afore a gun. When I looks at ’im again ’E was out of all ’is pain, An’ I ’opes ’is soul will rest for wot ’e done. If it ’adn’t been for Bill We should all ’ave been in ’ell, For we only got in action just in time. Ain’t it once occurred to you Wot the ’orses there go through? They ’elps to win our fight an’ does it fine.
When ’is blood is flowing ’ot From a wound what ’e’s just got An’ ’is breath is coming ’ard an’ short an’ thin, ’E can see the men about, Getting water dealed out, But not a drop is brought to comfort ’im; Tho ’is tongue is parched and dry, ’E can see the water by, But ’is wounds are left to bleed, An’ ’e can’t tell us ’is need, So ’e’s just got to bear ’is pain--an’ think.
There are ’eroes big and small, But the biggest of them all Is the ’orse wot lays a-dying on the ground. ’E doesn’t cause no wars, An’ ’e’s only fighting yours, An’ ’e gives ’is life for you without a sound. ’E doesn’t get no pay, Just some oats, and p’r’aps some hay; If ’e’s killed, no one thinks a bit of ’im. ’E’s just as brave an’ good As any men wot ever stood, But there’s mighty little thought or ’elp for ’im.
This delightful whimsy will serve to keep in mind the positively affectionate exchange of greetings between the late President Carranza and his friend Wilhelm, when Wilhelm was celebrating what he did not know was the last glorious birthday in his life.
Oh, Carranza sent a cable-(on the kaiser’s birthday) gram To the kaiser there at Pots-(that’s a German palace) dam, And it said, “Look out for Uncle (that’s my northern neighbor) Sam, For he’s coming after you!”
Then the kaiser waved his iron (as the papers have it) hand, And he danced a little sara-(that’s a Turkish tango) band, And he said: “I’m safe in Heli-(in the German sea) goland, But I thank my friend Carranza.”
IN THE STARS AND STRIPES, A. E. F., FRANCE