[Chorus]
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 they send me off to war

[Verse 1]
I wanna horse in a volunteer force that's ridin' forth at dawn
They save for me some gallantry that'll echo when I'm gone
And I beg of you sirs: let me lead the charge when the battle lines are drawn
Lemme at least leave a good hoof beat they'll remember loud and long

[Verse 2]
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 let me ride; by God you'll see my starch
Lope back o'er the heath with a laurel wreath underneath that vict'ry arch

[Chorus]
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 they send me off to war

[Verse 3]
Let me earn my spurs in the battle's blur when the day is lost or won
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 Remmington
Where the hot lead screams with a cold cold steel, let me be a cal'vryman
[Instrumental]

[Chorus]
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 they send me off to war

[Verse 4]
Let 'em play their flutes and stirrup my boots and place them back to front
For I won't be back on the rudderless black, and I'm finished in my hunt
I wanna be in the cavalry if I must go off to war
I wanna be in the cavalry, but I won't ride home no more