The Soldier Boy's Canteen 1885 'The Grip'

Dr. Pitt-Payne in London UK - 27 Dec 2003

At break o' day,
when I started away,
in the year of eighteen sixty one,
a gallant band from our own northern land,
we marched with the sword and the gun;
In jackets blue, and the trousers, too,
our banners gaily trim'd with green;
Then a trooper's pride hanging by my side,
oh, a soldier boy's canteen.

So, dear old friend, it's then I do intend
to keep your mem'ry fresh and green;
so let's take a sip and wet our lip
from a soldier boy's canteen.

No tale, I'll tell of the shot and the shell,
for the din of heavy cannon's sound;
'tis over now, and the old farmer's plough
Tears up ole Virginia's ground;
Confed and Yank, oh, they often drank
beside a rich and pearly stream;
Then a pint and gill, sure 'twould often fill,
Oh, a soldier boy's canteen.

So, dear old friend, it's then I do intend
to keep your mem'ry fresh and green;
so let's take a sip and wet our lip
from a soldier boy's canteen.

A drop of rye, taken oft on the sly,
in the night or day, it would find its way
to army tents of the brave regiments
in both of the blue and the grey;
When darkness fell,
oh, we'd hear "All's Well!"
from trench, and river, and ravine;
There on picket post, oh,
the rebs we'd roast
from a soldier boy's canteen.

So, dear old friend, it's then I do intend
to keep your mem'ry fresh and green;
so let's take a sip and wet our lip
from a soldier boy's canteen.

Soft karaoke
Words
piano 1
piano 2
piano 3
piano 4
lyric
pizz str bass
*
The Soldier Boy's Canteen 1885
Lyrics by Edward Harrigan
Music by Dave Braham
copyright 1885 by Wm. A. Pond  N.Y.
sequence and karaoke by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Saturday 27 December 2003 at 20.40
in association with Doug Grierson
*
One of the songs from Edward Harrigan's New Comedy
"The Grip"
*