* MAKE YOUR OWN ARRANGEMENTS *
When the depot soldier's dinin’ on three-quarters of a pound,
If there's too much bone to please‘ im, or the meat is extry tough,
‘ E‘ as got a chance of grousin’ when‘ is orficer goes round,
‘ E can draw upon the mess-book, if‘ s rations ai n't enough.
But it's make your own arrangements! Make your own arrangements!
When you're cut orf from the column, an’ supplies are runnin’ low,
It ai n't no‘ too much fat, sir!’
But it's bread — an’ glad of that, sir!
O it's bake your own arrangements — out of flour — as you go!
When the depot soldier's on parade‘ e sparkles an’‘ e shines.
When the depot soldier's drillin’‘ e must make each motion‘ tell.’
When the depot soldier's marchin’‘ e must march on drill-book lines.
‘ E‘ as got a drill-instructor, an’‘ e does it very well.
But it's make your own arrangements! Make your own arrangements!
When the camp is rushed at midnight, an’ you're fallin’ in — to die!
O there ai n't no drill-rules set there,
But it's take your gun — an’ get there!
When you make your own arrangements, you must grab your belt an’ fly.
The depot soldier's grounded in a systematic drill;
‘ E also knows wot's‘ rendezvous’ an’ what is‘ bivouac.’
‘ E knows the use of rifle-pits, the proper way to kill —
‘ E understands the principles an’ the'ries of attack.
But it's make your own arrangements! Make your own arrangements!
When you're dodgin’ tons of boulder, climbin’ mount'ins under fire,
An’ the drill-book wo n't assist you
Till the fallin’ rocks‘ ave missed you!
So you make your own arrangements — an’ you climb a little
‘ igher!
When the depot soldier's wantin’ with‘ is orficer to speak,
‘ E must‘ alt two paces from‘ im, an’ salute before the start.
An’‘ e must n't try to argue, an’‘ e must n't give no cheek;
An’ if‘ is Captain slangs‘ im —‘ e must take it in good part.
But it's make your own arrangements! Make your own arrangements!
When you see‘ im lying wounded, all the circumstances change.
An’ you do n't‘ eed no instructions;
An’ you do n't need introductions;
But you make your own arrangements — an’ you get‘ im out of range.
When the depot soldier sickens, when the depot soldier dies,
‘ E is buried by‘ is comrades in the regulation style.
‘ E is covered by an ensign of the regulation size,
An’‘ e gets a firin’ party made of thirteen rank an’ file.
But it's make your own arrangements! Make your own arrangements!
When the Colonel reads the service by a guard-room lantern light.
When in silent rows you've laid‘ em
In a trench your bay'nets made‘ em,
O, it's make your own arrangements when you bury in the night!