The songs of the Wilsons With a memoir of the Family, and several additional songs never before published. Edited by John Harland |
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SOLDIER JACK. |
 | The songs of the Wilsons |  |
15
SOLDIER JACK.
By Mr Michael Wilson.
I'm Soldier Jack who went with Dick;
I've play'd the Frenchmen many a trick;
But now return'd, and peace is made,
I'll sit me down a jolly blade.
When drums and trumpets call to arms,
Each hero's breast to glory warms;
We rush among those dread alarms,
And neither value legs nor arms.
I've play'd the Frenchmen many a trick;
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I'll sit me down a jolly blade.
When drums and trumpets call to arms,
Each hero's breast to glory warms;
We rush among those dread alarms,
And neither value legs nor arms.
CHORUS.
Think not, my friends, the truth I rack;But hear the feats of Soldier Jack.
With the Duke of York at first I went,
At Valenciennes some time we spent,
Till having made a breach one day,
I unto his highness thus did say—
“Let me, sir, lead the soldiers on.”
No sooner said than it was done;
I scaled the walls, the Frenchmen run,
Nor had one man his head left on.
At Valenciennes some time we spent,
Till having made a breach one day,
I unto his highness thus did say—
“Let me, sir, lead the soldiers on.”
No sooner said than it was done;
I scaled the walls, the Frenchmen run,
Nor had one man his head left on.
CHORUS.
Think not, my friends, the truth I rack;Such feats are nought with Soldier Jack.
The Duke's career being at an end,
For Egypt next my steps I bend;
Of Bonyparty at a blow,
I there complete the overthrow.
I threw ten thousand in the Nile,
Which made old Abercromby smile;
Pursued the Corsican twelve mile,
And then return'd their camp to spoil.
For Egypt next my steps I bend;
Of Bonyparty at a blow,
I there complete the overthrow.
I threw ten thousand in the Nile,
Which made old Abercromby smile;
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And then return'd their camp to spoil.
CHORUS.
Think not, my friends, the truth I rack;Such feats are nought with Soldier Jack.
At famed Vittoria! 'tis well known,
This arm sustain'd the fight alone,
And Wellington had there been slain,
Had I not slily slipp'd between.
I caught six generals by the nose,
Cut off their heads at six more blows;
And I had brought 'em here as shows,
But lost 'em in a storm, Heaven knows.
This arm sustain'd the fight alone,
And Wellington had there been slain,
Had I not slily slipp'd between.
I caught six generals by the nose,
Cut off their heads at six more blows;
And I had brought 'em here as shows,
But lost 'em in a storm, Heaven knows.
CHORUS.
Think not, my friends, the truth I rack;Such feats are nought with Soldier Jack.
On hands and knees i' th' Pyrenees,
I climb'd a mountain by degrees;
Five miles in height at least I'll say,
In mounting which I was a day.
I gave a jump amidst the foe,
One hundred thousand strong below;
I dealt out death at every blow,
Till twenty thousand were laid low.
I climb'd a mountain by degrees;
Five miles in height at least I'll say,
In mounting which I was a day.
I gave a jump amidst the foe,
One hundred thousand strong below;
I dealt out death at every blow,
Till twenty thousand were laid low.
CHORUS.
Think not, my friends, the truth I rack;Such feats are nought with Soldier Jack.
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Next I appear'd before Bayonne,
And there Soult's business had been done;
And I had thence to Paris gone,
The proud Napoleon to dethrone:
Just then, we heard a peace was made,
As ten to bite the dust I'd laid:
With that I sheath'd my trusty blade,
Sorry my laurels thus must fade.
And there Soult's business had been done;
And I had thence to Paris gone,
The proud Napoleon to dethrone:
Just then, we heard a peace was made,
As ten to bite the dust I'd laid:
With that I sheath'd my trusty blade,
Sorry my laurels thus must fade.
CHORUS.
Think not, my friends, the truth I rack;Such feats are nought with Soldier Jack.
Some think old soldiers falsehoods tell,
But these are facts, and known as well
At Paris, Madrid, Greece, or Rome,
As by my comrades here at home;
At Alexander's court they 're told;
At Berlin wrote in burnish'd gold.
Great Cæsar's actions are tenfold
Outdone, by Soldier Jack so bold.
But these are facts, and known as well
At Paris, Madrid, Greece, or Rome,
As by my comrades here at home;
At Alexander's court they 're told;
At Berlin wrote in burnish'd gold.
Great Cæsar's actions are tenfold
Outdone, by Soldier Jack so bold.
CHORUS.
Think not, my friends, the truth I rack;I'm downright, upright, Soldier Jack.
| The songs of the Wilsons | |