I wanna be in the cavalry if they send me off to war
I wanna good steed under me like my forefathers before
And I wanna good mount when the bugle sounds and I hear the cannons' roar
I wanna be in the cavalry if I must go off to war
I wanna horse in the volunteer force that's riding forth at dawn
Please save for me some gallantry that will echo when I'm gone
And I beg of you sarge let me lead the charge
When the battle lines are drawn
And lemme at least leave a good hoof beat they'll remember loud and long
I'd not a good foot soldier make, I'd be sour and slow at march
And I'd be sick on a navy ship, and the sea would leave me parched
But I'll be first in line if they'll let me ride, by god
You'll see my starch
Lope back o'er the heath with the laurel wreath
Underneath that vict'ry arch
I wanna be in the cavalry if they send me off to war
I wanna good steed under me like my forefathers before
And I wanna good mount when the bugle sounds and I hear the cannons' roar
I wanna be in the cavalry if I must go off to war
Let me earn my spurs in the battle's blur where the day is lost or won (yeah)
And I'll wield my lance as the ponies dance
And the blackguards fire their guns
And a sabre keen, and a saddle carbine and an army Remington
Where the hot lead screams with the cold, cold steel
Let me be a cav'lryman
I wanna be in the cavalry if they send me off to war
I wanna good steed under me like my forefathers before
And I wanna good mount when the bugle sounds and I hear the cannons' roar
I wanna be in the cavalry if I must go off to war
Let 'em play their flutes and stirrup my boots
And place them back to front
For I won't be back on the rider-less black
And I'm finished in my hunt
I wanna be in the cavalry if they send me off to war
I wanna be in the cavalry, but I won't ride home no more