To feed a war you have to pillage But let your soldiers rest a bit For what they need here's Mother Courage With woollen coats and boots that fit Their heads ablaze with lice and liquor The boys are marching to the beat I guarantee they'll step it quicker With boots upon their blistered feet Now spring has come and winter's dead The snow has gone so draw a breath Let Christian souls crawl out of their beds Pull on their socks and conquer death Unless his belly's full of porridge A soldier's sure to turn and run By him some grub from Mother Courage So he'll know where to point his gun They fight for God and legal tender I'll see them clothed and feed them well And bless the boys in all their splendour As they march down the road to hell Now spring has come and winter's dead The snow has gone so draw a breath Let Christian souls crawl out of their beds Pull on their socks and conquer death