YOUR KING AND COUNTRY WANT YOU (A Woman's Recruiting Song)
(aka: WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOU, BUT WE THINK YOU OUGHT TO GO)
(Music & Lyrics: Paul A. Rubens)


Helen Clark - 1914
Bessie Jones - 1914
Edna Thornton - 1914
Robert Howe - 1914
Miss Ainell - 1914
Stanley Kirkby - 1914
Eileen Boyd - 1914
The Ladies of the Chorus (feat. in the London Stage Production "Oh, What A Lovely War!") - 1963
The Ladies of the Chorus (feat. in the Broadway Production) - 1964
Penny Allen & Chorus Line (feat in the film "Oh, What A Lovely War!") - 1969






As recorded by HELEN CLARK:

We've watched you playing cricket and every kind of game
At football, golf and polo you men have made your name
But now your country calls you to play your part in war
And no matter what befalls you, we shall love you all the more
So, come and join the Forces as your fathers did before

Oh, we don't want to lose you, but we think you ought to go
For your king and your country both need you so
We shall want you and miss you, but with all our might and main
We shall cheer you, thank you, kiss you, when you come back again

Oh, we don't want to lose you, but we think you ought to go
For your king and your country both need you so
We shall want you and miss you, but with all our might and main
We shall cheer you, thank you, kiss you, when you come back again

We want you from all quarters, so help us South and North
We want you in your thousands, from Falmouth to the Forth
You'll never find us fail you when you are in distress
So, answer when we hail you and let your word be "Yes"
And so your name in years to come, each mother's son shall bless

Oh, we don't want to lose you, but we think you ought to go
For your king and your country both need you so
We shall want you and miss you, but with all our might and main
We shall cheer you, thank you, kiss you, when you come back again

Oh, we don't want to lose you, but we think you ought to go
For your king and your country both need you so
We shall want you and miss you, but with all our might and main
We shall cheer you, thank you, kiss you, when you come back again**


**In male recordings, the words "kiss you" were replaced by "bless you"



EXTRA VERSE:

It's easy for us women to stay at home and shout
But remember there's a duty to the men who first went out
The odds against that handful were nearly four to one
And we cannot rest until it's man for man and gun for gun
And every woman's duty is to see that duty done






(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - July 2014)