What are you doing, soldier bold?
Slowly growing old, slowly growing old.
What are you doing, soldier bold?
Slowly growing old, said he.
Of what is the world made, soldier bold?
Slowly growing old, slowly growing oold.
A little light, and a little shade, don't you know.
Slowly growing old, said he.
And how shall we measure it, soldier bold?
Slowly growing old, slowly growing old.
By compass and by astrolabe.
Slowly growing old, said he.
And what will you do when you are old?
Retire from this world of constant woe.
And what will you do when you are old?
Retire from this world, let me go, let me go.