Follow the sergeant

First Published 1915
Writer/composer AJ Mills, Fred Godfrey and Bennett Scott Roud RN25965

Music Hall Performers Esta Stella
Folk performances Collected from the singing of:
Hall, Mabs; England : Sussex; 1989		 

Sergeant Brown came up to town, with several new recruits;
They one and all were pals.These territorials,
"I learned some tricks in India" said he, "You bet that's true!
And I also learnt some wrinkles, at Aldershot too
I know a place where the girls are simply fine;
So if you want a barrel of fun, now just fall into line

Follow the sergeant, follow the sergeant!
I've been there before many a time.
Eyes right! Lots of fun in store.
Eyes left! As you were before!
When you're in khaki, merry and larky,
You're a military man in all your prime.
Who is it gets you into trouble and gets you out again?
Why the good old sergeant, ev'ry time!

What a noise when all the boys got to a music hall
To see a smart revue, The beauty chorus too.
A girl sang: "I should like to kiss a soldier boy tonight!"
And the sergeant said, "Lads this is a bit of all right!"
As on the stage he hopped up like a bird. 
"She wants to kiss a soldier tonight – we'll take her at her word"

Home again through pouring rain, went Sergeant Brown and squad
When nearing his street door, there Missis Brown he saw
The danger light in wifie's eyes shone halfway down the street;
So he boldly said, "Boys, right about turn and retreat!
Oh! What a night!" Said Sergeant Brown "By Gosh!"
As he went sliding over the road in all the slippery slosh

A huge hit for Esta Stella in the Halls. One of the many recruiting songs that were popular in the early years of World War I, a style which became significantly less popular as the war dragged on. As was often the case in this period, a song that establish itself in the halls transferred into other types of entertainment – it was widely sung in pantomime and revue and was recorded by Harry Fay amongst others.

There is more information about this song on the excellent Fred Godfrey website.

In 1970 a fragment of the song (the chorus) was collected from the singing of Mabs Hall by Roy Palmer, whose version can be found on the British Library site.

Harry Fay’s version:

Sources: