This is a song that Tim often uses to bridge between larger songs. The actual origins of this song are vague but it is known to have become popular amongst soldiers during the First World War, and it is made mention of by James Joyce in “Ulysses” and “Finnegan’s Wake”. The actual lyrics vary according to who is singing it for, as is part of folk music, it is more about the expression of the person delivering it than the preservation of an original set of lyrics.
We were drunk last night.
We were drunk the night before,
We’re gonna get drunk tonight
like we’ve never been drunk before,
For we are the soldiers of the Royal Artillery!
Chorus
Singing Glo-ri-ous! Vic-to-rious!
One keg of beer between the four of us!
And glory be to God that there are not any more of us;
For one of us could drink the blooming lot!
And glory be to God that there are not any more of us,
For one of us could drink the blooming, drink the blooming lot!
come and join us
come and join us
come and join our happy band
come and join us
come and join us
come and join our happy band
won’t you please put a penny in the drum
won’t you please put a penny in the drum
another bloody tanner would buy the bleedin banner
wont you please put a penny in the drum
come and join etc.
we were drunk last night we were drunk the night before
we’re gonna be drunk tonight like weve never been drunk before
glorious victorious one bottle of beer between the 4 of us
thanks be to God there are’nt any more of us
cause one of us would drink the bloody lot
come and join etc..