1st verse:]

My lovin' baby

My lovin' baby

You better dry your eyes and don't be grievin'

You got to stop it

You better drop it

I told you once before

I've got to go to war

Now don't you worry

I've got to hurry

Because the regiment will soon be leavin'

Don't you feel blue

Because I'm goin' off to war



[chorus:]

I've got to go

I've got to go

A soldier man I've got to be

I've got to go

I've got to go

I hear the bugle calling me

Oh, my hon', hurry up, hurry up

Get my gun, hurry up, hurry up

Can't you see that I've got to fight for love and liberty

My honey dear, my honey dear

You better save your sympathy

If you should hear

If you should hear

I got too near the enemy

Kindly carry me back to old Virginia

And when you get me there

Say a prayer for your Ragtime soldier man



[2nd verse:]

The time is flying

I'm kind o' sighing

'Cause I must say goodbye to my home cooking

There's no denying

I leave you crying

But don't you worry, hon'

As long as I can run

They'll never find me

They'll be behind me

But if they shoot me, dear, while I'm not looking

If so, you'll know

That I was wounded comin' home