DE GUARDS OF LAFAYETTE

Ma Rosie say to me today,

“You mus’ prepare, ol’ man,

For to join de Allied army

In de ranks of Honcle Sam.

De worl’ is full commotion

Since explosion of de Hun,

An’ de dev's to pay for Belgium

An’ “position in de sun”.

I say, “all rat, ol’ woman,

Let de summon come today,

An’ you'll fin’ ol’ Joseph ready

For to arm an’ march away!

I'm as good for carry knapsack

An’ to shoulder up ma gun

As I was in Reil rebellion

On de far Saskatchewan.”

De home of ma adoption

Is as good a place for me

As across de line in Canadaw,

Ma native counteree.

Ma work, ma home, ma frien's, are here —

In fac’, de whol’ dem set!

So w'at can I do but join wit you

In de Guards of Lafayette!

I do n't care me for nobodda

But stan’ up for w'at' s right,

An’ if Honcle Sam he geeve de word

An’ say we got to fight:

Good-bye ma work on Amoskeag,

I leave it quick you bet,

An’ join de boy wit’ utmos’ joy

On de Guards of Lafayette!

So do n't mak’ fuss abo't dis cuss,

An’ don’ be tak’ it hard

If I, ol’ Joe, go soon to show

Ma colors in de Guard.

You say I got some babby —

I mus’ stay rat by dem? Nit!

I will march beneat’ ol’ Glory

In de Guards of Lafayette!

O ai n't it mak’ sensation

On de streets of Manchestar

W'en de order come from Honcle Sam

To march us off to war.

Nobodda'll know dat dis is Joe

From dear ol’ Nicolet,

W'en off I march jus’ stiff lak starch

In de Guards of Lafayette!

Dear Woodrow, would you be so good

As send us Teddy R.,

To be commander of de chief

An’ leader of de Guar’?

Dis war, ma friend, is quick to end

If battle stage is set

For bol’ Ted, on Armageddon

Leading Guards of Lafayette!

O sure it's be proud day for me

I nevair saw before,

W'en Johnny Bull an’ Honcle Sam

Fight sides by side once more!

It's mak’ one combination

Dat's tarnation sure to win

W'en Old Glory joins de Allies

On dat rough road to Berlin!

Mos’ place I go dey ask me, “Joe,

Who start dis gol darn war?

Was it de Sultan-Kaiser,

Or de Austro Hungry Tsar?”

I hanswer, “well, it's hard to tell

Who start dis hell abroad,

But spite of Hun, de gas an’ gun,

We'll finish it, ba God!”

Den Rosie, dear, dry up de tear,

An’ cheer up lak ma joy —

You know de Hun is turn his gun

On leetle girl an’ boy!

Now dat we mus’ join in de fuss

And Honcle Sam say, “Get!”

Jus’ wish us well an’ shout lak hell

For de Guards of Lafayette!