Jeff plays 'The Rogue's March' to introduce this song which was written after reading an account in Henry Mayhew's 'London Labour and the London Poor' of beggars pretending to be ex-soldiers or sailors to lend respectability to their appeal. These 'Turnpike Sailors' and 'Street Campaigners' were very rarely what they pretended to be - but after knowing Peter and his band for several years I'm more inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Now people come and gather round

Though our coats are ragged and our faces brown

You see we are no common band

At the call of our country we all did stand

Tip-a-tap tip, hop and skip

It's Peter's Private Army

 

Number one is Peter Dunn

His arm blown away by a big French gun

It's him our little band does lead

With the money bag tied to his sleeve

Tip-a-tap tip, hop and skip

It's Peter's Private Army

 

And number two is Peg-leg Hugh

His dancing done since Waterloo

With his fiddle tucked beneath his chin

He'll wave his stump to keep the time

Tip-a-tap tip, hop and skip

It's Peter's Private Army

 

And number three is Blind Jack Bree

Lost both his eyes in the King's navy

But still his squeeze-box he can play

And the notes roll out like an ocean wave

Tip-a-tap tip, hop and skip

It's Peter's Private Army

 

And number four is Harry Taw

Caught a bullet in the throat in the Peninsula

But he's wind enough on his fife to toot

He can say as much as we although his voice is mute

Tip-a-tap tip, hop and skip

It's Peter's Private Army

 

And number five is Mad Jim Ives

We sometimes wonder if he's dead or alive

But when he hears the fiddle thrum

He'll beat like hell on his pigskin drum

Tip-a-tap tip, hop and skip

It's Peter's Private Army

 

And now we're marching off again

You can hear us fading down the lane

And we hope that you've been kind to us

'Cos we've given much for you in the foreign wars

Tip-a-tap tip, hop and skip

It's Peter's Private Army

 

Copyright  © 1972 Martin Graebe