Maurice Brown Kirby — The United States Marine

You kin blow about yer hero volunteer An' yer rough an' ready, steady infantree; You kin sing about yer jackie an' can cheer Fer yer neat an' handy, dandy cavalree; But of all the sojer men I ever knew An' all the sailor men I ever seen When there's fun or fuss or fight, the boy to keep in sight Is Billy Blue, United States Marine An' it's hi Billy, Billy, Billy Blue! We think we've got a little job to do: We expect to have a fight an' we want it started right So we puts the startin' of it up to you He's a sojеr, he's a sailer, he's a cop; Hе's as much at home ashore as he's afloat; He's as cosy in his crazy fightin' top As the chaplain in his double-breasted coat; He kin ride a hoss as well as he kin row He kin shoot a gun as well as he kin swim; He there's trouble in the air Billy Blue is always there An' you bet yer life it ain't too hot for him An' it's hi Billy, Billy, Billy Blue! We think we've got a little job to do: There's some sailors drunk ashore won't come back aboard no more Se we puts the bringin' of 'em up to you His officer is frequently a chap Wot blowed his coin afore he got his sense; He kin hold a Shetland pony in his lap An' his shoulders always seem to grow immense P'r'aps his mathematics ain't complete P'r'aps there's sums as he ain't equal to; But fer fightin' fair an' square—say! I sooner hug a bear Then jump the man that nurses Billy Blue Then it's hi Cap'en, Major, Colonel Blue! We think we've got a little job to do: There's a landin' to be made an' a bill as must be paid An' there's no one kin collect it quick as you When the "Maine" was blowin' up around his head He stood there wid his flipper at salute While the Skipper he was climbin' outer bed— O Billy, ye're a darlin', yer a beaut! Wid the ships an' army anchored out to sea An' the Greasers closin' in on every side He laid down snug an' tight, an' he learnt 'em how to fight Till the fever came an' took him, then he died Oh it's hi Billy, Billy, Billy Blue! If wot the chaplain promises is true Of the brave man's great reward when he goes to meet his Lord I'd like to take my chanst along o' you