American War Songs Medley

If they're gonna make a patriarch out of me, I'll fix, hm, I'll sing you a pop song of 200 years ago. Come to think of it, I'll sing you little bits of some other songs of other American wars. 1846, war with Mexico, not everybody agreed with this one, you know. Abe Lincoln, he voted against it himself. But they went in, soldiers did. Pretty little pink, I once did think, You and I would marry. But now that you have turned me down, I'll no longer tarry. I put my knapsack on my back, My gun upon my shoulder, Fly away to Mexico To be a valiant soldier. 1863, wasn't agreement here, neither. Let's see! But a great song, one of America's greatest. John Brown's body lies a-moulderin' in the grave, John Brown's body lies a-moulderin' in the grave, John Brown's body lies a-moulderin' in the grave, But his soul goes marchin' on. 1898, war with Spain, invasion of the Philippines, more disagreement. Mark Twain thought that President McKinley, he should be boiled in oil. But that didn't stop McKinley and the soldiers went in. This is not a very pretty song. Damn, damn, damn the Fillipino, Cross-eyed, kakiack ladrone!     (kakiack, kakiak = amber, a kind of yellow) And beneath the starry flag Civilize 'em with a Krag And go back to our own beloved home! If there's any Philippine people listening, I hope, you pardon me. I'm just tryin' to get the history out. A far better soldiers' song is one written in 1917 by Black soldiers and every GI since has learned it. Oh, the coffee that they give you, They say, is mighty fine. Good for cuts and bruises, Tastes like iodine. I don' want no more of army life, Gee, but I wanna go, Gee, but I wanna go, Gee, but I wanna go home! I learned that song myself!