When Cannons are Roaring

When Cannons are Roaring

 

Soldiers with swords in hand

to the walls coming,

Horsemen about the streets

riding and running.

Sentinels on the walls, "On, on!" a-crying,

Petards against the ports,

wild fire a-flying!

When cannons are roaring

and bullets are flying,

He that would honour win,

must not fear dying!

Trumpets on turrets high

they are a-sounding,

Drums beating out aloud,

echoes resounding.

Alarum bells in each place,

they are a-ringing,

Women with stones in laps

to the walls bringing!

Captains in open fields

on their foes rushing,

Gentlemen second them

with their points pushing.

Engineers in the trench earth,

earth uprearing,

Gunpowder in the mines,

Pagans up-blowing!