Sergeant William Bailey was a man of great renown,
Toora loora loora loora loo,
In search of gallant young recruits he used to scour the town,
Toora loora loora loora loo,
His face was full and swarthy, of medals he had forty,
And ribbons in his hat, red, white and blue,
It was he that looked a hero and he made the people stare, oh,
As he stood at Dunphy's corner, toora loo.

Yet, alas for human greatness, every doggy has his day,
Toora loora loora loora loo,
And Sergeant William Bailey is getting old and grey,
Toora loora loora loora loo,
No longer youths are willing to take his dirty shilling,
And things for him are looking very blue,
In spite of fife and drumming, no more recruits are coming,
For Sergeant William Bailey, toora loo.

Sergeant William Bailey, what a wretched sight is he,
Toora loora loora loora loo,
His back that once was stiff and straight, sure, it's almost bent in three,
Toora loora loora loora loo.
Some rebel youths with placards have called his army blaggards,
And told the Irish boyhood what to do,
He has lost his occupation, let's sing in jubilation,
For Sergeant William Bailey, toora loo.