Up to your waist in water
Up to your eyes in slush
Using the kind of language
That makes the sergeants blush
Who wouldn't join the army
That's what we all inquire
Don't we pity the poor civilians
Sitting beside the fire?

Oh! Oh! Oh! It's a lovely war
Who wouldn't be a soldier, eh?
Oh, it's a shame to take the pay

As soon as reveille has gone
We feel just as heavy as lead
But we never get up till the sergeant
Brings our breakfast up to bed

Oh! Oh! Oh! It's a lovely war
What do you want with eggs and ham
When you've got plum and apple jam?
Form fours! Right turn!
How shall we spend the money we earn?
Oh! Oh! Oh! It's a lovely war

Oh! Oh! Oh! It's a lovely war
Who wouldn't be a soldier, eh?
Oh, it's a shame to take the pay

As soon as reveille has gone
We feel just as heavy as lead
But we never get up till the sergeant
Brings our breakfast up to bed, what?

Oh! Oh! Oh! It's a lovely war
What do you want with eggs and ham
When you've got plum and apple jam?
Form fours! Right turn!
How shall we spend the money we earn?
Oh! Oh! Oh! It's a lovely war

Come to the cook-house door, boys
Sniff at the lovely stew
Who is it says the colonel
Gets better grub than you?
Any complaints this morning?
Do we complain? Not we
What's the matter with lumps of onion
Floating around your tea?

Oh! Oh! Oh! It's a lovely war
Who wouldn't be a soldier, eh?
Oh, it's a shame to take the pay

As soon as reveille has gone
We feel just as heavy as lead
But we never get up till the sergeant
Brings our breakfast up to bed

Oh! Oh! Oh! It's a lovely war
What do you want with eggs and ham
When you've got plum and apple jam?
Form fours! Right turn!
How shall we spend the money we earn?
Oh! Oh! Oh! It's a lovely war

Oh! Oh! Oh! It's a lovely war
Who wouldn't be a soldier, eh?
Oh, it's a shame to take the pay

As soon as reveille has gone
We feel just as heavy as lead
But we never get up till the sergeant
Brings our breakfast up to bed

Oh! Oh! Oh! It's a lovely war
What do you want with eggs and ham
When you've got plum and apple jam?
Form fours! Right turn!
How shall we spend the money we earn?
Oh! Oh! Oh! It's a lovely war