Lyrics

When I left Rome for Lalage's sake By the Legions' Road to Rimini She vowed her heart was mine to take With myself and my shield to Rimini— (Till the Eagles flew from Rimini—) And I've tramped Britain, and I've tramped Gaul And the Pontic shore where the snow-flakes fall As white as the neck of Lalage— (As cold as the heart of Lalage!) And I've lost Britain, and I've lost Gaul And I've lost Rome and, worst of all I've lost Lalage! When you go by the Via Aurelia As thousands have travelled before Remember the Luck of the Soldier Who never saw Rome anymore! Oh dear was the sweetheart that kissed him Dear was the mother that bore But his shield was picked up in the heather And he never saw Rome anymore! And he left Rome for Lalage's sake By the Legions' Road to Rimini She vowed her heart was his to take With himself and his shield to Rimini— (Till the Eagles flew from Rimini—) And he tramped Britain, and he tramped Gaul And the Pontic shore where the snow-flakes fall As white as the neck of Lalage— (As cold as the heart of Lalage!) And he lost Britain, and he lost Gaul And he lost Rome and, worst of all He lost Lalage! When you go by the Via Aurelia That runs from the City to Gaul Remember the Luck of the Soldier Who rose to be master of all! He carried the sword and the buckler He mounted his guard on the Wall Till the Legions elected him Cæsar And he rose to be master of all! And he left Rome for Lalage's sake By the Legions' Road to Rimini She vowed her heart was his to take With himself and his shield to Rimini— (Till the Eagles flew from Rimini—) And he tramped Britain, and he tramped Gaul And the Pontic shore where the snow-flakes fall As white as the neck of Lalage— (As cold as the heart of Lalage!) And he lost Britain, and he lost Gaul And he lost Rome and, worst of all He lost Lalage! It's twenty-five marches to Narbo It's forty-five more up the Rhone And the end may be death in the heather Or life on the Emperor's throne But whether the Eagles obey us Or we go to the Ravens—alone I'd sooner be Lalage's lover Than sit on the Emperor's throne! We've all left Rome for Lalage's sake Down the Legions' Road to Rimini She vowed her heart was ours to take With ourselves and our shields to Rimini— (Till the Eagles flew from Rimini—) And we've tramped Britain, and we've tramped Gaul And the Pontic shore where the snow-flakes fall As white as the neck of Lalage— (As cold as the heart of Lalage!) And we've lost Britain, and we've lost Gaul And we've lost Rome and, worst of all We've lost Lalage!