Classic Poem

Ye gentlemen and ladies fair who grace this famous city,
Just listen if you've time to spare while I rehearse a ditty;
And for an opportunity, conceive yourselves quite lucky for 'tis not often here you see a hunter from Kentucky,
O, Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky,
O, Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky.

2

You've heard I s'pose how New Orleans is fam'd for wealth and beauty,
There's girls of ev'ry hue it seems, from snowy white to sooty;
So Packenham he made his brags, if he in fight was lucky,
He'd have their girls and cotton bags, in spite of old Kentucky.

3

But Jackson he was wide awake, and wasn't scar'd at trifles,
For well he knew what aim we take with our Kentucky rifles;
So he led us down to Cypress swamp, the ground was low and mucky,
There stood John Bull in martial pomp, and here was old Kentucky.

4

A bank was rais'd to hide our breast, not that we thought of dying,
But that we always like to rest, unless the game is flying;
Behind it stood our little forceÔÇônone wished it to be greater,
For ev'ry man was half a horse, and half an alligator.

5

They found at last 'twas vain to fight, where lead was all their booty;
And so they wisely took a flight, and left us all our beauty.
And now if danger e'er annoys, remember what our trade is,
Just send for us Kentucky boys, and we'll protect you, ladies.