Page:Claude McKay Constab Ballads.djvu/30



, pam-pa-pam, pam-pa-pam,

Hea’ de fire-bugle blow!

Pam-pa-pam, pam-pa-pam, pam-pa-pam,

Depôt boys, tu’n do’n below!

Runnin’ do’n out o’ de big barrack-room,

Haulin’ de two engine out o’ de shed;

Formin’ up into a long double line,

Wait tell de fus’ wud o’ cómmand is said.

Soon as we hea’ it we start t’rough de gate,

Wid buckets, ledder, an’ engine an’ key:

Joyously happy, with right cheery will

Tramp we away from de big Depôt lea.

Whole line in twos we go marchin’ along,

List’nin’ de tramp-trampin’ tune of our feet,

Side winks a-givin’ our gals as we pass

Merrily, nimbly along White Church Street.

At de shrill soun’ o’ de whistle we halt,

An’ when de engine an’ all is fixed square,

We start a-pumpin’ wid might an’ wid main,

Sendin’ clear water chock up in de air.