"When I left the States for Mexico,
With the Regular Cavalry,
We numbered several thousand,
Young, healthy, strong and free.
All the others,—they are sleeping
On the hillside over there,
Far from home and loving kindred
And the native country dear.
"Perhaps twenty died from sickness,
Victims of the fever's rage,
Or amoebic dysentery,
All the rest,—from ripe old age!
I'm the last of all those thousands,
Through this place I still must roam,
Waiting for expected orders—
Welcome orders to go HOME."
WITH PERSHING IN MEXICO
When I've served out this enlistment,
And my time in the Reserves,
Why, I am going to treat yours truly
To the treat that he deserves.
For I am tired chasing Villa,
In this God-forsaken land,
When there's nothing much but cactus
And the useless miles of sand.
Where the Rio Grande is flowing,
By El Paso near Fort Bliss,
There's a little girl worth knowin',
And she's a'savin' me a kiss.
Oh, I met her once a'walking,
With red corals in her hair;
Where the greasers sit a'talking,
In the little public square.
There's real food there; white women;
Most things a man could want;
And a pool to go in swimmin'
And a Chinese restaurant;
Where, across the hot Chop Suey;
If you give the Chink a wink,
He'll produce a little teapot,
Full of something good to drink.
Oh, I'm tired of Cactus whiskey,
That they stop the trucks to sell;
For one bottle's mighty risky,
And two starts a man for hell.
And the first time that I'm able,
When they hand me my discharge,
Watch me lean across the table,
And say: "Bo, give me a drink of 'large.'"
So good-bye, Adobe ladies;
My regards to Uncle Sam;
Let old Pancho go to Hades;
Adios to Col. Dublan!
They can't bind me with a lasso,
Once this little Doughboy's free;
There's a girl right in El Paso,
That I'm bound he's going to see.
For she's waitin', my Anita;
In the Plaza, in the Square;
Where the little fenced-in fountain
Throws its water in the air;
Where the old pet alligator stays,
And winks his knowin' eye,
And says, "Patience, Senorita,"
He'll be with you by an' by.