The  Minstrel Boys

Songs of the Civil War

Recreating the role of the Irish in the American Civil War 1861-65

The Rose of Alabamy

Away from Mississippi's vale,

With my ol' hat there for a sail,

I crossed upon a cotton bale

To Rose of Alabamy.

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CHORUS:

Oh brown Rosie,

Rose of Alabamy!

A sweet tobacco posey

Is my Rose of Alabamy.

A sweet tobacco posey

Is my Rose of Alabamy.

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Oh, arter d'rectly bye and bye,

The moon rose white as Rosie's eye;

Then like a young coon out so sly

Stole Rose of Alabamy.

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I said "Sit down just where you please."

Upon my lap she took her ease.

"It's good to go upon the knees,"

Said Rose of Alabamy.

The river rose; the cricket sang,

The lightnin' bug did flash his wing;

Then like a rope my arms I fling,

'Round Rose of Alabamy.

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We hugged how long I cannot tell.

My Rosie seemed to like it well.

My banjo in the river fell.

Oh Rose of Alabamy

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Like alligator after prey,

I jump in, but it float away,

And all the while it seem to say,

"Oh Rose of Alabamy."

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Now every night come rain or shower,

I hunt that banjo for an hour;

And see my sweet tobacco flower,

Oh, Rose of Alabamy.

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Oh fare thee well, you belles of Spain,

And fare thee well to Liza Jane!

Your charms will all be put to shame,

By Rose of Alabamy.

 

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Well it’s by the Hush

Well it's by the hush, me boys, and sure that's to hold your noise

And listen to poor Paddy's sad narration

I was by hunger pressed, and in poverty distressed

So I took a thought I'd leave the Irish nation

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Here's to you boys, now take my advice

To America I'll have ye's not be going

There is nothing here but war, where the murderin' cannons roar

And I wish I was at home in dear old Dublin

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Well I sold me ass and cow, my little pigs and sow

My little plot of land I soon did part with

And me sweetheart Bid McGee, I'm afraid I'll never see

For I left her there that morning broken-hearted

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Well meself and a hundred more, to America sailed o'er

Our fortunes to be made we were thinkin'

When we got to Yankee land, they shoved a gun into our hands

Saying "Paddy, you must go and fight for Lincoln"

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General Meagher to us he said, if you get shot or lose your head

Every murdered soul of youse will get a pension

Well meself I lost me leg, they gave me a wooden peg,

And by God this is the truth to you I mention

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Well I think meself in luck, to get fed on Indian buck

And old Ireland is the country I delight in

With the devil, I do say, it's curse Americay

For I think I've had enough of your hard fightin'