[00:07.458] Oh soldiers, I’ve concluded to make a little song,
[00:11.333] And if I tell no falsehood there can be nothing wrong,
[00:15.296] If any be offended at what I have to sing,
[00:19.167] Then surely his own conscience applies the bitter sting.
[00:22.850] Oh, how do you like this Army
[00:24.860] The brass-mounted Army,
[00:26.775] The high-falutin’ Army,
[00:28.545] Where eagle buttons rule?
[00:38.485] Whisky is a monster, and ruins great and small,
[00:42.213] But in our noble Army, Headquarters gets it all;
[00:45.981] They drink it when there’s danger, although it seems too hard,
[00:49.844] But if a private touches it, they put him “under guard.”
[00:53.620] And when we meet the ladies, we’re bound to go it sly,
[00:57.528] Headquarters are the pudding, and the privates are the pie!
[01:01.307] They issue standing orders to keep us all in line,
[01:05.313] For if we had a showing, the brass would fail to shine.
[01:09.039] Oh, how do you like this Army
[01:10.713] The brass-mounted Army,
[01:12.572] The high-falutin’ Army,
[01:14.394] Where eagle buttons rule?
[01:24.128] At every big plantation or wealthy men’s yard,
[01:27.956] Just to save the property, the general puts a guard;
[01:31.775] The sentry’s then instructed to let no private pass –
[01:35.555] The rich man’s house and table are fixed to suit the “brass.”
[01:39.333] I have to change this story, so beautiful and true,
[01:43.208] But the poor man and widow must have a line or two;
[01:47.078] For them no guard is stationed, their fences oft are burned,
[01:51.006] And property molested, as long ago you’ve learned.
[01:55.249] Oh, how do you like this Army
[01:57.201] The brass-mounted Army,
[01:59.206] The high-falutin’ Army,
[02:00.887] Where eagle buttons rule?
[02:10.631] The Army’s now much richer than when the war begun,
[02:14.566] It furnishes three tables where once it had but one;
[02:18.391] The first is richly loaded with chickens, goose, and duck,
[02:22.252] The rest with pork and mutton, the third with good old buck.
[02:26.068] Our generals eat the poultry, and buy it very cheap,
[02:29.937] Our colonels and our majors devour the hog and sheep;
[02:33.810] The privates are contented (except when they can steal),
[02:37.625] With beef and corn bread plenty to make a hearty meal.
[02:41.539] Oh, how do you like this Army
[02:43.449] The brass-mounted Army,
[02:45.345] The high-falutin’ Army,
[02:47.307] Where eagle buttons rule?
[02:56.676] These things, and many others, are truly hard to me,
[03:00.546] But still I’ll be contented, and fight for Liberty!
[03:04.321] And when the war is over, oh what a jolly time!
[03:08.234] We’ll be our own commanders and sing much sweeter rhymes.
[03:12.267] We’ll see our loving sweethearts, and sometimes kiss them, too,
[03:16.184] We’ll eat the finest rations, and bid old buck adieu,
[03:20.006] There’ll be no more generals with orders to compel,
[03:23.844] Long boots and eagle buttons, forever fare ye well!
[03:27.713] And thus we’ll leave the Army,
[03:29.624] The brass-mounted Army,
[03:31.583] The high-falutin’ Army,
[03:33.404] Where eagle buttons rule.