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"Respectfully Dedicated to Col. Stewart and his Regiment." "As Sung by the Boys of Col. Stewart's Regt."
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Respectfully dedicated to Col. Stewart and his Regiment. We are the gay & happy suckers of the State of Illinois as Sung by the Boys of Col. Stewart's Reg't. Composed by J.P. Webster Chicago Published by H.M. Higgins 117 Randolph St Entered according to Act of Congress AD 1862 by H.M. Higgins in the Clerks Office of the Dist. Court of the Nor'n. Dt. of Ill.
WE ARE THE GAY & HAPPY SUCKERS, FROM THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. SONG & CHORUS by J.P. Webster
[All vocal lines] 1. We're the boys that's gay and happy, Happy in the tented field; With our nations' banner o'er us And its honor for our shield.
2. Friends at home be gay and happy, Never blush to speak our name; Should our comrades fall in battle, They shall share a soldier's fame.
3. Colonel Stewart, gay and happy, Holds the post with his command; Seldom has a soldiers honor Ever graced a better man.
4. We're the gay and happy Suckers, From the State of Illinois; Waiting till our Colonel orders Us to flog the rebel boys.
Chorus
[Air/Alto] So let the cannons boom as they will, We'll be gay and happy still; Gay and happy, Gay and happy, We'll be gay and happy still..........
[Tenor/Bass] So let the cannons boom as they will, We'll be gay and happy still; We'll be gay and happy, happy, We'll be gay and happy, happy, We'll be gay and happy, happy still.........
We'll be gay and happy, happy, Gay and happy, We'll be gay and happy still............
[All vocal lines] 5. Rebels are not gay and happy, For their scrissh they cannot eat; Some like birds we keep in cages, Dining on hard stack and meat. <italic> Chorus. </italic>
6. Girls at home be gay and happy, Show that you have womans pride; Never wed a homesick coward - Wait and be a soldiers bride.
7. Gay and happy, sweet they answer, None but fools will marry now; Valiant men have all enlisted; Unto cowards we'll not bow.
8. We're the girls that's gay and happy, Waiting for the end of strife; Rather share a soldiers rations than to be a cowards wife.
9. For the gay and for the happy, We're as constant as the dove; But the man who dares not soldier, Never can obtain our love.