[Verse 1]
In the prison cell I sit, thinking mother, dear, of you
And our bright and happy home so far away
And the tears they fill my eyes, in spite of all that I can do
Though I try to cheer my comrades and be gay
[Chorus]
Tramp, tramp, tramp! The boys are marching
Cheer up, comrades, they will come
And beneath the starry flag, we shall breathe the air again
Of the free land in our own beloved homes
[Verse 2]
In the battle front we stood when their fiercest charge they made
And they swept us off, a hundred men or more
But before they reached our lines, they were beaten back, dismayed
And we heard the cry of victory o'er and o'er
[Chorus]
Tramp, tramp, tramp! The boys are marching
Cheer up, comrades, they will come
And beneath the starry flag, we shall breathe the air again
Of the free land in our own beloved homes
[Verse 3]
So within the prison cell, we are waiting for the day
That you'll come to open wide the iron door
And the hollow eye grow bright and the poor heart almost gay
When we think of seeing home and friends once more
[Chorus]
Tramp, tramp, tramp! The boys are marching
Cheer up, comrades, they will come
And beneath the starry flag, we shall breathe the air again
Of the free land in our own beloved homes