This is a camp that is a-mighty tough Were the marchin' men are made But I am a guy who doesn't dig that stuff And I'm idle on parade There is a man, a Sergeant-Major Lush And he has got to be obeyed (Yeah!) And in a voice just like a little thrush He says I'm idle on parade Now, when they gave me a rifle, well they went too far I'm much better off when I got a guitar I told the C.O. that I wanna be sent He sent me to a place where I could repent When I was a-free, I was a crazy pup Rock-a-boogie was my trade Now Captain Burton-Bassett says I'm all shook up And I'm idle on parade When they gave me a rifle, well they went too far I'm much better off when I got a guitar I told the C.O. that I wanna be sent He sent me to a place where I could repent When I was a-free, I was a crazy pup Rock-a-boogie was my trade Now Captain Burton-Bassett says I'm all shook up And I'm idle on para-a-a-a-a-ade (Idle on paraa-a-a-ade)