Transcription
A NEW SONG,
Sung by Mr. CONNEL, in the Character of a Gunner, in the celebrated
SIEGE OF VALENCIENNES,
AT ASTLEY’s.
I.
A Gunner am I, my boys,
My trade is powder and noise;
I* never yet fear’d our foes;
Knowing how to escape their blows;
I handled spunge and rammer,
And stop the Frenchmen’s clamour;
They soon will wish to be gone,
When three shot’s [sic] fired to one:
Houses tumbling,
Frenchmen grumbling;
Stand to your gun,
Shew them some fun;
Such is a soldier’s life in time of war.
II.
Hark! the Royal Duke is near,
Quickly see that all is clear:
Soldiers, soldiers, fire away,
And you’ll bravely gain the day.
When such orders we receive,
Who, to fight, can ever grieve;
For, in handling well the ball,
Valenciennes will quickly fall,
Houses tumbling, &c.
III.
Level well your guns, say I,
And the foe will shortly fly;
Then we rush into the town,
Which we nearly have knock’d down:
Then the foe we lately beat
Cries for mercy at our feet;
Then we prove like Britons brave---
Those we’ve conquer’d nobly save!
No more tumbling,
No more grumbling,---
Those that feared us
Now revere us.
Our hearts now glow
To ease their woe,
Such is a soldier’s life in this time of war.
*By the character of a gunner, the author wishes to convey an idea, that a man may rejoice in having an opportunity to serve his country, in the time of danger, in the most essential manner, through the channel of his profession.
