Sergeant William Bailey was a man of high renown,
Toora-loora-loora-loora-loo
In search of gallant young recruits he used to scour the town,
Toora-loora-loora-loora-loo
His face was full and swarthy, of medals he had forty,
And ribbons on his chest - red, white and blue
It is he what looked the hero, a he made the people stare-o,
As he stood on Dunphy’s corner, toora-loo.

Now as Sergeant William Bailey on Dunphy’s corner stands,
Toora-loora-loora-loora-loo
Enticing Dublin young lads for to die in foreign lands,
Toora-loora-loora-loora-loo
For to improve their station, he shouts in high elation,
To come and fight for king and country,
But for all the noise he’s making, the bait they aren’t taking,
From Sergeant William Bailey, toora-loo.

Now alas for human greatness every dog he has his day,
Toora-loora-loora-loora-loo
And Sergeant William Bailey he is getting old and grey,
Toora-loora-loora-loora-loo
No longer youths are willing, to take his dirty shilling,
And things for him are looking mighty blue,
For in spite of fife and drumming, no more recruits are coming,
To Sergeant William Bailey, toora-loo.
Now Sergeant William Bailey what a wretched sight to see
Toora-loora-loora-loora-loo
And the back that once was strong and straight’s now almost bent in three
Toora-loora-loora-loora-loo
Some rebel youths with placards have called his army blaggards,
And told the Irish youth just what to do
He has lost his occupation, let’s sing in jubilation,
For Sergeant William Bailey, toora-loo.