The Jolly Beggars : I am a son of Mars
A song by Robert Burns, written in 1785.
I am a son of Mars who have been in many wars,
And show my cuts and scars wherever I come;
This here was for a wench, and that other in a trench,
When welcoming the French at the sound of the drum.
My Prenticeship I past where my Leader breath'd his last,
When the bloody die was cast on the heights of Abram;
And I served out my Trade when the gallant game was play'd,
And the Moro low was laid at the sound of the drum.
I lastly was with Curtis among the floating batt'ries,
And there I left for witness, an arm and a limb;
Yet let my Country need me, with Elliot to head me,
I'd clatter on my stumps at the sound of a drum.
And now tho' I must beg, with a wooden arm and leg,
And many a tatter'd rag hanging over by bum,
I'm as happy with my wallet, my bottle and my Callet,
As when I us'd in scarlet to follow a drum.
What tho', with hoary locks, I must stand the winter shocks,
Beneath the woods and rocks oftentimes for a home,
When the tother bag I sell and the tother bottle tell,
I could meet a troop of Hell at the sound of a drum.
Duration:
This clip is from
Featured in...
![]()
Works read by Douglas Henshall—The works of Robert Burns
All his recordings from the 250th anniversary project.
![]()
Works written in 1785—The works of Robert Burns
Most Burns works can be attributed to a specific year.
More clips from The works of Robert Burns
![]()
He Till't and She Till't
Duration: 00:17
![]()
The Heron Ballads : Wham will we send to London town
Duration: 02:16
![]()
Sic a wife as Willie's Wife
Duration: 01:17
![]()
To Robert Graham of Fintry Esq
Duration: 05:55







