Classic Poem

Now " Scotty " was a black Scot, cursed England with his clan
Because his gret-gran'-fayther was hanged a " Charlie's man " ,
But Scotty left in Flanders, wi' blackest curse and frown,
A hairy leg for England and the King his Crown.
O'er hills by richt his ain
He stumps wi' micht and main
And monny a curse for England and the King his Crown.

Now Paddy was a red Celt and known in any land
(His heart he always carries in the heel of his right hand).
He went to gaol for Ireland before the moon went down,
And left his scalp in Palestine for the King his Crown.
And now, with silver pate,
He voices Ireland's hate
For everything in England, and the King his Crown.

My father was a Norseman, and the Norseman was a Dane
(It was a Queen of England left Denmark in her pain).
A rebel while my beard was red and while my hair was brown,
I've yapped four years for England and the King his Crown —
" Flag-flapper, turncoat, clown! "
Old comrades wince and frown!
I sold their cause for England and the King his Crown.

The King he was a married man, as most of us should be;
The King he had his children, and we had two or three.
We heard the shrieking women and the screaming children drown,
And so we fought for England and the King his Crown.
We played our little part —
A rebel has a heart
To keep! — as well as England — or a King his Crown.

Perhaps we'll find that we betrayed the rebel cause in vain;
Perhaps some day we'll dare to raise the Rebel Flag again.
Remember then, when we have lost — before you shoot us down,
That once we strove for England and the King his Crown —
But, if you shoot us there,
Be sure we'll die as fair
As any died for England and the King his Crown.

We're not all saints and martyrs; we're not all eyes and hair.
(One failed to fight a wrong because he found a girl so fair.)
We're rebels to ourselves at times, and sin by field and town;
And yet we'd fight for Nazareth — and The King His Crown —
Dear King, so meek and mild!
We're each a little child —
'Tis not ourselves, but Someone, and — a Queen her Crown.