| [00:07.458] |
Oh soldiers, I’ve concluded to make a little song, |
| [00:11.333] |
And if I tell no falsehood there can be nothing wrong, |
| [00:15.296] |
If any be offended at what I have to sing, |
| [00:19.167] |
Then surely his own conscience applies the bitter sting. |
| [00:22.850] |
Oh, how do you like this Army |
| [00:24.860] |
The brass-mounted Army, |
| [00:26.775] |
The high-falutin’ Army, |
| [00:28.545] |
Where eagle buttons rule? |
| [00:38.485] |
Whisky is a monster, and ruins great and small, |
| [00:42.213] |
But in our noble Army, Headquarters gets it all; |
| [00:45.981] |
They drink it when there’s danger, although it seems too hard, |
| [00:49.844] |
But if a private touches it, they put him “under guard.” |
| [00:53.620] |
And when we meet the ladies, we’re bound to go it sly, |
| [00:57.528] |
Headquarters are the pudding, and the privates are the pie! |
| [01:01.307] |
They issue standing orders to keep us all in line, |
| [01:05.313] |
For if we had a showing, the brass would fail to shine. |
| [01:09.039] |
Oh, how do you like this Army |
| [01:10.713] |
The brass-mounted Army, |
| [01:12.572] |
The high-falutin’ Army, |
| [01:14.394] |
Where eagle buttons rule? |
| [01:24.128] |
At every big plantation or wealthy men’s yard, |
| [01:27.956] |
Just to save the property, the general puts a guard; |
| [01:31.775] |
The sentry’s then instructed to let no private pass – |
| [01:35.555] |
The rich man’s house and table are fixed to suit the “brass.” |
| [01:39.333] |
I have to change this story, so beautiful and true, |
| [01:43.208] |
But the poor man and widow must have a line or two; |
| [01:47.078] |
For them no guard is stationed, their fences oft are burned, |
| [01:51.006] |
And property molested, as long ago you’ve learned. |
| [01:55.249] |
Oh, how do you like this Army |
| [01:57.201] |
The brass-mounted Army, |
| [01:59.206] |
The high-falutin’ Army, |
| [02:00.887] |
Where eagle buttons rule? |
| [02:10.631] |
The Army’s now much richer than when the war begun, |
| [02:14.566] |
It furnishes three tables where once it had but one; |
| [02:18.391] |
The first is richly loaded with chickens, goose, and duck, |
| [02:22.252] |
The rest with pork and mutton, the third with good old buck. |
| [02:26.068] |
Our generals eat the poultry, and buy it very cheap, |
| [02:29.937] |
Our colonels and our majors devour the hog and sheep; |
| [02:33.810] |
The privates are contented (except when they can steal), |
| [02:37.625] |
With beef and corn bread plenty to make a hearty meal. |
| [02:41.539] |
Oh, how do you like this Army |
| [02:43.449] |
The brass-mounted Army, |
| [02:45.345] |
The high-falutin’ Army, |
| [02:47.307] |
Where eagle buttons rule? |
| [02:56.676] |
These things, and many others, are truly hard to me, |
| [03:00.546] |
But still I’ll be contented, and fight for Liberty! |
| [03:04.321] |
And when the war is over, oh what a jolly time! |
| [03:08.234] |
We’ll be our own commanders and sing much sweeter rhymes. |
| [03:12.267] |
We’ll see our loving sweethearts, and sometimes kiss them, too, |
| [03:16.184] |
We’ll eat the finest rations, and bid old buck adieu, |
| [03:20.006] |
There’ll be no more generals with orders to compel, |
| [03:23.844] |
Long boots and eagle buttons, forever fare ye well! |
| [03:27.713] |
And thus we’ll leave the Army, |
| [03:29.624] |
The brass-mounted Army, |
| [03:31.583] |
The high-falutin’ Army, |
| [03:33.404] |
Where eagle buttons rule. |
