[Lyric] The United States Marine (Maurice Brown Kirby)

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