Classic Poem

Come all you jolly soldiers,
I will sing — you a song;
I'll try to be brief,
I will not detain you long;
Concerning my — troubles, and how they did advance;
And how I got around them and what a harrow chance.

With a bottle of good whisky I put the guard to sleep,
Then down upon my knees so slyly I did creep.
And when I had got round them and found I had got through,
I sat down upon a little rock and there put on my shoe.

The ferryage it was guarded and I had nary horse,
I cast my eyes around, a little raft I spied.
I thought by good judgment I could get to the other side;
I jumped upon my little raft, so gently sailed across.

Not thanking them for ferryage, nor eitherwise a horse
I struck out up old Lickin', I set my head for home;
To see my wife and children, all that was my intent,
To see my wife and children that I had left alone.

When I come to find them I found them all asleep;
I told my wife I'd been a prisoner and now on my retreat.
She gave to me my supper, a blanket in my hand,
Told me to leave this country and go to Dixie's land.

Whisky by the quart, boys, brandy by the tin,
We are the boys that fear no noise,
Though far from home, in the battle din.

There was John T. Williams, as he was coming back,
He met six of those Lincolnites close by a big oats stack.
He jumped behind the big oats stack, and there he cocked his gun,
He told them he would fight them fair, though they were six to one.