The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello everyone,

I struggle to find on the internet the lyrics of the song in this video. It is a 2 minute cylinder with the song "do as the soldiers do" by Arthur Clifford. Does anyone knows more on this song, or either some sources where I can read the words? I am Italian and it is quite difficult to understand the correct words..

The video with the song is this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvVi28Vtl_c

Thank you in advance for your time!

Hello Alessandro,

It is very hard to understand the words in this song.
I listened to it many times, at different speeds, and the following is the best that I came up with.

(removed to avoid confusion)

James.

recordmaker has filled in the blanks and has caught more than I did, Great Job!

a lot of songwriters tricks of the time ( 1909 is ) in this make it less than plain modern English
nere' for never for example
courting less used word now possibly replaced by dating
as stiff as starch not a laundry practice these days
worth her salt now this goes back to the pay method of the Roman army.

I think I caught most of it...

A soldier is a man that you should copy always,
His training, retaining, to guide you all your days,
Mostly the ladies you’ll find that his trade is,
A model of total xxxxxx
He knows when to march,
He knows when to halt,
His drilling is perfect and true
So you fellows who are courting
You will nere’ be at fault
In doing what the soldiers do

March march march as stiff as starch
March if the girls xxxxxxxx
Halt halt halt if she’s worth her salt
Heed what the bugle may cry
Cheer cheer cheer if the note is clear,
Telling she loves but you,
Do your duty fly to her,
That’s what the soldiers do