BEANS

A simple ditty Private Smithy sang for me,

Entitled “Beans.”... The tune was not a joy;

The words were commonplace as they could be,

But just to hear his earnest voice — “Oh, Boy!”

When first I went a-sojerin’

I could n't eat the stuff

The cookies gave the bunch of us,

For it was rough and tough.

But since I've been a-sojerin’

And learned what livin’ means

The grub we get tastes mighty good,

E-special-lee th’ beans,

Especially th’ beans!

We all were soft and flabby —

Our hands and muscles, too —

We had been used to easy things

To eat, to think, to do.

But when we tackled trench work,

With all that diggin’ means,

We learned to like the sojer grub,

E-special-lee th’ beans,

Especially th’ beans.

So now we're very diff'rent

When mess-call comes around;

We've got our appetites all set

A-waitin’ for that sound;

It's always “second helpin's”

Behind the mess-tent screens;

We're glad for Uncle Sam's good grub,

E-special-lee th’ beans,

Especially th’ beans!

A very simple ditty, you'll agree with me;

A commonplace production; but the joy

And unction that he puts into the melody,

The splendid appetite he sings — Oh, Boy!