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 | The Poems of St. George Tucker of Williamsburg, Virginia 1752-1827 |  |
Song
Tune—A cobbler there was, etc.
I envy no man for his purse, or his wife,
Or his horses, or coach, or his station in life;
With a little content, independence I prize,
And he that seeks more, is more greedy than wise,
Derry down, etc.
Or his horses, or coach, or his station in life;
With a little content, independence I prize,
And he that seeks more, is more greedy than wise,
Derry down, etc.
66
I care not a farthing for term, or vacation;
Or the meeting of Congress to settle the nation;
Or assemblies that talk of divorces and banks,
Pass censures on some, and to others give thanks,
Derry down, etc.
Or the meeting of Congress to settle the nation;
Or assemblies that talk of divorces and banks,
Pass censures on some, and to others give thanks,
Derry down, etc.
What care I, whether Jackson's a general or judge?
Whether Peter or Dabney the circuit shall trudge?
Whether substitutes offered by Mercer or Leigh,
The majority gain is no matter to me.
Derry down, etc.
Whether Peter or Dabney the circuit shall trudge?
Whether substitutes offered by Mercer or Leigh,
The majority gain is no matter to me.
Derry down, etc.
Still less do I care, whether Caesar, or Kate,
Who their freedom have bought, shall remain in the state.
If a street be too wide, or a lane be too close,
Or three pence be given for killing of crows,
Derry down, etc.
Who their freedom have bought, shall remain in the state.
If a street be too wide, or a lane be too close,
Or three pence be given for killing of crows,
Derry down, etc.
Speculators, and smugglers, and gamesters and racers,
Now mounted in garrets, now mounted on pacers!
Let who will win the race! whether Blacky or Roan,
Break his rider's neck first, and then break his own.
Derry down, etc.
Now mounted in garrets, now mounted on pacers!
Let who will win the race! whether Blacky or Roan,
Break his rider's neck first, and then break his own.
Derry down, etc.
As for demagogues, Federalists, aristocrats,
Now roaring like lions, now purring like cats,
Catterwalling, and scratching, or watching a mouse,
I regard them no more than a flea, or a louse.
Derry down, etc.
Now roaring like lions, now purring like cats,
Catterwalling, and scratching, or watching a mouse,
I regard them no more than a flea, or a louse.
Derry down, etc.
For the maniac George, and the tyrant of France,
I would they were thrown in a thousand-year's trance;
When waking, well purged of their infamous crimes,
They may turn harmless poets, like me, and make rhymes.
Derry down, etc.
I would they were thrown in a thousand-year's trance;
When waking, well purged of their infamous crimes,
They may turn harmless poets, like me, and make rhymes.
Derry down, etc.
Feb. 1812
| The Poems of St. George Tucker of Williamsburg, Virginia 1752-1827 | |