Behold I am a soldier bold, and only twenty five year old,

A braver warrior never was seen fae Inverness tae Gretna Green.

When I was young my father said he wid pit me tae a decent trade,

But I didnae like that job ata', so I went and joined the Forty Twa.

 

Chorus :

The wind may bla', the cock may cra',

The rain may rain, and the sna' may sna',

But ye winna frichten Jock McGraw,

He's the stoutest man in the Forty Twa.

 

The sergeant when he 'listed me, he winked his e'e and then says he,

"A man like you so stout and tall can ne'er be killed by a cannon ball."

The captain then when he cam' roon, he looked me up and he looked me doon,

Then turning tae the sergeant said, "Awa' ye scamp, ye;ve 'listed the bleachfield oot on tramp!"

 

At oor last fecht across the sea, the general he sends efter me.

Fan I gaed there and my big gun, of coarse the battle it was won.

The enemy a' ran awa', they were feart at the legs o' Jock McGraw.

A man like me so tall and neat, ye ken yersel' he could niver be beat.

 

The King then held a grand review, we numbered a thoosand and sixty-two;

The kiltie lads cam' marchin' past and Jock McGraw cam' marchin' last.

The royal pairty grabbed their sticks an' a' began tae stretch their necks,

Cries the King tae the Colonel, "Upon my soul, I took that man for a telegraph pole."