HUERTA’S DRINKING SONG

On the day of the siege of Vera Cruz.

Be merry, let us drink wine,

And sip, sip, sip;

Full soon the days shall slip,

Gray hairs shall catch us,

Grim death will dispatch us

Long ere our pleasures be full.

Let not the soul be dull,—

Therefore be merry; let us drink wine.

Be merry, let us drink wine,

And quaff, quaff, quaff;

Loud ring your cheering laugh,—

Care we for Gringos?

Let ’em come, by Jingos!

Ne’er fear that all will be well,

We’ll lick ’em spite of hell,—

Therefore be merry; let us drink wine.

Hoch der Kaiser! How he slapped his son,

When he saw the war begin!

Spoke the Kaiser in his wrath to the crown prince,

“What an awful mess you’ve got me in!”

“Squads of Russians, French, and Englishmen,

Swords a-tilt to quell us all;

Couldn’t you wait until we had grown stronger,

With more men and guns on which to fall?

“I’ll not say that I am so displeased,

That you’ve laid Mar’s spirit bare,—

’Tis the will of every noble Deutscher,—

But you should ’a used much greater care.

“Now we’ve got to battle,—we’re in for war!

But I guess I’ll let you fight.

’Sides, it’s just as good a time as any

Just to show them all our might.

“Let the drum beat to its martial tune;

Strike Wacht am Rhein and let’s begin;

Austria’s aid will go to help us some,

So I guess we’ll now stay in.”