A recruiting sergeant marched,
Through the streets of rochester,
Bound for the wars in the low country.
And he sang as he marched, *
And he played apon his kettle drum,  *
"who'll be a soldier for marlbrough and me?" *

Chorus:
Who'll be a soldier, who'll be a soldier,
Who'll be a soldier for marlborough and me?
And he sang, as he marched, *
And he played apon his kettle drum, *
Who'll be a soldier for marlborough and me? *

For the queen she has ordered,
Fresh troops for the continent,
To fight ' gainst the french in the low country.
So if you'll be a rover, *
Dressed in a scarlet uniform,
Come be a soldier for marlborough and me. * 

Oh not i said the butcher,
Nor i said the magistrate,
Most of the people, they would not agree,
To be paid in the powder, *
And the rattle of the cannon ball, *
Wages for soldiers for marlbrough and me. *

Ah but i said the young man,
Have long endured the parish dues,
Not more charity, for the likes of me,
Starvation and danger, *
They will my destiny, *
I'll take the queens shilling for marlbrough and me. *

So forty recruits marched,
Through the streets of rochester,
To fight 'gainst the french in the low country,
And they sang as they marched, *
Through the crowded streets of rochester, *
Who'll be a soldier for marlbrough and me ?
The Rochester Recruiting Sergeant