This is a camp that is a-mighty tough
Were the marchin' men are made
But I am a guy
Who doesn't dig that stuff
And I'm idle on parade
There is a man
A Sergeant-Major Lush
And he has got to be obeyed Yeah )
And in a voice just like a little thrush
He says I'm idle on parade
Now when they gave me a rifle
Well they went too far
I'm much better off when I got a guitar
I told the C O that I wanna be sent
He sent me to a place
Where I could repent
When I was a-free I was a crazy pup
Rock-a-boogie was my trade
Now Captain Burton-Bassett says
I'm all shook up
And I'm idle on parade
When they gave me a rifle
Well they went too far
I'm much better off when I got a guitar
I told the C O that I wanna be sent
He sent me to a place
Where I could repent
When I was a-free I was a crazy pup
Rock-a-boogie was my trade
Now Captain Burton-Bassett says
I'm all shook up
And I'm idle on para-a-a-a-a-ade