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The Minstrel Boys |
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Songs of the Civil War |
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Recreating the role of the Irish in the American Civil War 1861-65 |
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The Minstrel Boy
The Minstrel Boy to the war is gone In the ranks of death you will find him; His father's sword he hath girded on, And his wild harp slung behind him; "Land of Song!" said the warrior bard, "Tho' all the world betrays thee, One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard, One faithful harp shall praise thee. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Minstrel fell! But the foeman's chain Could not bring that proud soul under; The harp he lov'd ne'er spoke again, For he tore its chords asunder; And said "No chains shall sully thee, Thou soul of love and brav'ry! Thy songs were made for the pure and free, They shall never sound in slavery! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Minstrel Boy will return, we pray; When we hear the news, we all will cheer it, The minstrel boy will return one day, Torn perhaps in body, not in spirit. Then may he play on his harp in peace, In a world such as Heaven intended, For all the bitterness of man must cease, And ev'ry battle must be ended.
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DixieI wish I was in the land of cotton,Old times there are not forgotten; Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie's Land!In Dixie's Land, where I was born in,Early on one frosty morning, Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie's Land!- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -CHORUS:Then I wish I was in Dixie. Hooray! Hooray!In Dixie's Land I'll take my stand,To live and die in Dixie.Away! Away! Away down South in Dixie!Away! Away! Away down South in Dixie!- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Old missus married Will the Weaver.William was a gay deceiver! Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie's Land!But when he put his arm around her,Smiled as fierce as a forty-pounder! Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie's Land!- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - His face was as sharp as a butcher's cleaver,But that did not seem to grieve her! Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie's Land!Old missus acted the foolish part,And died for the man that broke her heart. Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie's Land!- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Now here's a health to the next old missus,And all the gals that want to kiss us! Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie's Land!But if you want to drive away sorrow.Come and hear this song tomorrow. Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie's Land!- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - There's buckwheat cakes and injun batter,Makes you fat or a little fatter! Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie's Land!Then hoe it down and scratch your gravel,To Dixie's Land I'm bound to travel. Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie's Land!
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Goober Peas Sitting by the roadside on a summer's day, Chatting with my messmates, passing time away, Lying in the shadows, underneath the trees, Goodness, how delicious, eating goober peas! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CHORUS: Peas! Peas! Peas! Peas! Eating goober peas! Goodness, how delicious, eating goober peas! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - When a horseman passes, the soldiers have a rule To cry out at their loudest "Mister, here's your mule!" But still another pleasure enchantinger than these Is wearing out your grinders eating goober peas! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Just before the battle, the General hears a row; He says "The Yanks are coming, I hear their rifles now!" He turns around in wonder, and what do you think he sees? The Georgia Militia, eating goober peas! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I think my song had lasted almost long enough! The subject's interesting, but the rhymes are mighty rough! I wish this war was over, when free from rags and fleas, We'd kiss our wives and sweethearts and gobble goober peas!
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