[1st verse:]

My lovin' baby
My lovin' baby
You better dry your eyes and don't be grievin'
You got to stop it
You better drop it
I told you once before
I've got to go to war
Now don't you worry
I've got to hurry
Because the regiment will soon be leavin'
Don't you feel blue
Because I'm goin' off to war

[chorus:]
I've got to go
I've got to go
A soldier man I've got to be
I've got to go
I've got to go
I hear the bugle calling me
Oh, my hon', hurry up, hurry up
Get my gun, hurry up, hurry up
Can't you see that I've got to fight for love and liberty
My honey dear, my honey dear
You better save your sympathy
If you should hear
If you should hear
I got too near the enemy
Kindly carry me back to old Virginia
And when you get me there
Say a prayer for your Ragtime soldier man

[2nd verse:]
The time is flying
I'm kind o' sighing
'Cause I must say goodbye to my home cooking
There's no denying
I leave you crying
But don't you worry, hon'
As long as I can run
They'll never find me
They'll be behind me
But if they shoot me, dear, while I'm not looking
If so, you'll know
That I was wounded comin' home