Gallants attend, and hear a friend, Trill forth harmonious ditty,
Strange things I’ll tell, which late befell In Philadelphia city.
“Twas early day, as poets say, Just when the sun was rising,
A soldier stood, on a log of wood, And saw a thing surprising.
As in amaze he stood to gaze, The truth can’t be denied, sir,
He spied a score of kegs or more, Come floating down the tide, sir.
A sailor, too, in jerkin blue, This strange appearance viewing,
First damn’d his eyes, in great surprise, Then said, “Some mischief’s brewing.”
From morn till night, these men of might Display’d amazing courage;
And when the sun was fairly down, Retir’d to sup their porridge.
An hundred men, with each a pen, Or more, upon my word, sir,
It is most true would be too few, Their valor to record, sir.
Such feats did they perform that day, Against those wicked kegs, sir,
That years to come, if they get home, They’ll make their boasts and brags, sir.
Francis Hopkinson (1731-1791)
More on the Battle of the Kegs here.
Wishing all Americans a very happy Independence Day! (The rest of you can have a happy 4th of July. )
