Fuzzy-Wuzzy

We've fought with many men acrost the seas,  An' some of 'em was brave an' some was not:

The Paythan an' the Zulu an' Burmese;  But the Fuzzy was the finest o' the lot.

We never got a ha'porth's change of 'im:  'E squatted in the scrub an' 'ocked our 'orses,'E cut our sentries up at Sua~kim~,  An' 'e played the cat an' banjo with our forces.    So 'ere's ~to~ you,

Fuzzy-Wuzzy, at your 'ome in the Soudan;    You're a pore benighted 'eathen but a first-class fightin' man;    We gives you your certificate, an' if you want it signed    We'll come an' 'ave a romp with you whenever you're inclined.

We took our chanst among the Khyber 'ills,  The Boers knocked us silly at a mile,

The Burman give us Irriwaddy chills,  An' a Zulu ~impi~ dished us up in style:

But all we ever got from such as they  Was pop to what the Fuzzy made us swaller;

We 'eld our bloomin' own, the papers say,  But man for man the Fuzzy knocked us 'oller.    Then 'ere's ~to~ you,

Fuzzy-Wuzzy, an' the missis and the kid;    Our orders was to break you, an' of course we went an' did.    We sloshed you with Martinis, an' it wasn't 'ardly fair;    But for all the odds agin' you,

Fuzzy-Wuz, you broke the square. 'E 'asn't got no papers of 'is own,  'E 'asn't got no medals nor rewards,

So we must certify the skill 'e's shown  In usin' of 'is long two-'anded swords:

When 'e's 'oppin' in an' out among the bush  With 'is coffin-'eaded shield an' shovel-spear,

An 'appy day with Fuzzy on the rush  Will last an 'ealthy Tommy for a year.    So 'ere's ~to~ you,

Fuzzy-Wuzzy, an' your friends which are no more,    If we 'adn't lost some messmates we would 'elp you to deplore;    But give an' take's the gospel, an' we'll call the bargain fair,    For if you 'ave lost more than us, you crumpled up the square! 'E rushes at the smoke when we let drive,  An', before we know, 'e's 'ackin' at our 'ead;'E's all 'ot sand an' ginger when alive,  An' 'e's generally shammin' when 'e's dead.'E's a daisy, 'e's a ducky, 'e's a lamb!  'E's a injia-rubber idiot on the spree,'E's the on'y thing that doesn't give a damn  For a Regiment o' British Infantree!    So 'ere's ~to~ you,

Fuzzy-Wuzzy, at your 'ome in the Soudan;    You're a pore benighted 'eathen but a first-class fightin' man;    An' 'ere's ~to~ you,

Fuzzy-Wuzzy, with your 'ayrick 'ead of 'air —    You big black boundin' beggar — for you broke a British square!(Soudan Expeditionary Force)A tribute to the Hadendowah, who where the first to breach and break-through to the centre of a square. (A defencive formation used by the infantry, each side of the square would contain two lines of troops.

The first would kneel with bayonets raised, the second would stand and fire.) This formation had never been broken until the fuzzy-Wuzzies (black Dervish warriors) in the battle of Abu Klea.