World War II Songs

This story is by U3A Singing Group Medley, and has been added to the site with their permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions. The story was collected by Joyce Gibson, transcribed by Elizabeth Lamont and added to the site by Bruce Logan.
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Roll out the barrel. We’ll have a barrel of fun
Roll out the barrel. We’ve got the blues on the run.
Sing! Boom! Tararrel! Ring out a song of good cheer.
Now’s the time to roll the barrel, for the gang’s all here.

Run, rabbit, run, rabbit, run, run, run.
Run, rabbit, run, rabbit, run, run, run.
Bang, bang, bang, bang, goes the farmer’s gun
Run, rabbit, run, rabbit, run, run, run
Run, rabbit, run, rabbit, run, run, run.
Don’t give the farmer his fun, fun, fun.
He’ll get by without his rabbit pie,
So run, rabbit, run, rabbit, run, run, run.

We’re gonna hang out our washing or the Siegfried Line.
Have you any dirty washing, mother dear?
We’re gonna hang out our washing on the Siegfried Line,
‘Cos the washing day is here.
Whether the weather may be wet or fine,
We’ll just rub along without a care.
We’re gonna hang out our washing on the Siegfried Line,
If the Siegfried Line’s still there.

Kiss me goodnight, Sergeant Major. Tuck me in my little wooden bed
We all love you, Sergeant Major, when we hear you bawling: “Show a leg!”
Don’t forget to wake me in the morning,
And bring me round a nice hot cup of tea.
Kiss me good night, Sergeant major. Sergeant Major, be a mother to me.

Bless ‘em all! Bless ‘em all! The long and the short and the tall.
Bless all the sergeants and double-u oh ones,
Bless all the corp’rals and their blinkin’ sons,
‘Cos we’re saying goodbye to them all, as back to their billets they crawl.
You’ll get no promotion this side of the ocean
So cheer up, my lads, bless ‘em all!

I’ll be seeing you in all the old familiar places
That my heart and mind embraces all day through
In that small café, the park across the way,
The children’s carousel, the chestnut trees, the wishing well.
I’ll be seeing you in every lovely summer’s day,
In everything that’s light and gay, I’ll always think of you that way.
I’ll find you in the morning sun. And when the night is new,
I’ll be looking at the moon, but I’ll be seeing you.

The other night, dear, as I lay dreaming, I dreamt that you were by my side.
Came disillusion when I awoke, dear. You were gone, and then I cried.
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.
You make me happy when skies are grey.
You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you.
Please don’t take my sunshine away.

I’ve got sixpence, jolly, jolly sixpence.
I’ve got sixpence to last me all my life
I’ve got tuppence to spend and tuppence to lend
And tuppence to send unto my wife.
No cares have I to grieve me, no pretty little girl to deceive me.
I’m as happy as a king, believe me, as I go rolling home.
Rolling home, rolling home, as I go rolling home.
I’m as happy as a king, believe me, as I go rolling home.

Hey! Little hen! When, when, when will you lay me an egg for my tea?
Hey! Little hen! When, when, when will you try to supply one for me?
Get into your nest, do your little best. Get it off your chest. I can do the rest.
Hey! Little hen! When, when, when, will you lay me an egg for my tea?

Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey.
A kiddley divey too. Wouldn’t you? Yes!
Mairzydoats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey.
A kiddley divey too. Wouldn’t you?
If the words sound queer, and funny to your ear, a little bit jumbled and jivey.
Sing: “Mares eat oats and does eat oats, and little lambs eat ivy” Oh!
Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey.
A kiddley divey too. Wouldn’t you — oo?
A kiddley divey too. Wouldn’t you?

There’ll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover,
Tomorrow, just you wait and see.
There’ll be love and laughter and peace ever after,
Tomorrow, when the world is free.
The shepherd will tend his sheep; the valley will bloom again,
And Jimmy will go to sleep in his own little room again
There’ll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover,
Tomorrow, just you wait and see.

We’ll meet again. Don’t know where, don’t know when,
But I know we’ll meet again some sunny day.
Keep smiling through, just like you always do,
Till the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away.
So will you please say hello to the folks that I know
Tell them I won’t be long
They’ll be happy to know that, as you saw me go,
I was singing this song.
We’ll meet again. Don’t know where, don’t know when,
But I know we’ll meet again some sunny day.

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