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Facts: |
Much more history in the Jimmie Driftwood version. This battle was fought after peace was ironed out with England, but neither side knew that in New Orleans. In fact, the news of the win in New Orleans spread faster across the country. It took a 6 week ship trip to get the Christmas Eve peace documents back to the US. So, when that news finally arrived, it was perceived that it took The Battle of New Orleans to settle the war. Funny how those in the South in 1814 were Yankees before becoming rebels by 1861. (Tim P. Ryan) |
That traditional fiddle tune is called Eighth of January (Tim P. Ryan) |
This version is earlier and longer than the Johnny Horton hit version, with lyrics not heard in that much more popular version. (Tim P. Ryan) |
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Song Lyrics: |
"The Battle of New Orleans"
Lyrics by Jimmy Driftwood tune: Eighth of January, traditional fiddle tune
Well, in 18 and 14, we took a little trip Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Missisip We took a little bacon and we took a little beans And we met the bloody British in the town of New Orleans Chorus:
We fired our guns and the British kept a comin' There wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago We fired once more and they began a running Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico
Well, I seed Mars Jackson come a-walkin' down the street And a-talkin' to a pirate by the name of Jean Lafitte; He gave Jean a drink that he brung from Tennessee, And the pirate said he'd help us drive the British to the sea. Chorus
Well the French told Andrew, "You had better run For Packenham's a=comin' with a bullet in his gun." Old Hickory said he didn't give a damn He's a-gonna whup the britches off of Colonel Packenham. Chorus
Well, we looked down the river and we seed the British come And there must have been a hundred of them beating on the drum They stepped so high and they made their bugles ring While we stood behind our cotton bales and didn't say a thing Chorus
Old Hickory said we could take em by surprise If we didn't fire a musket till we looked em in the eyes We held our fire till we seed their face well Then we opened up our squirrel guns and really gave em well.. Chorus
Well they ran through the briars and they ran through the brambles And they ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn't go They ran so fast the hounds couldn't catch em Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico
Chorus
Well we fired our cannons till the barrels melted down So we grabbed an alligator and we fought another round We filled his head with minie balls and powdered his behind And when we touched the powder off, the 'gator lost his mind Chorus
They lost their pants and their pretty shiny coats And their tails was all a-showin' like a bunch of billy goats. They ran down the river with their tongues a-hanging out And they said they got a lickin', which there wasn't any doubt. Chorus
Well we marched back to town in our dirty ragged pants And we danced all night with the pretty girls from France; We couldn't understand 'em, but they had the sweetest charms And we understood 'em better when we got 'em in our arms. Chorus
Well, the guide who brung the British from the sea Come a-limping into camp just as sick as he could be, He said the dying words of Colonel Packenham Was, "You better quit your foolin' with your cousin Uncle Sam." Chorus
Well, we'll march back home, but we'll never be content Till we make Old Hick'ry the people's president. And every time we think about the bacon and the beans We'll think about the fun we had way down in New Orleans. Chorus
Copyright Warden Music Co., Inc. (Tim P. Ryan) |
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Song samples are provided for information purposes only and are intended
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