Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.

American Tribute

IN Washington’s time,

It was reckon’d no crime

(Though now we such measures prohibit)

To tickle the paws

Of the Barbary bashaws

With a snug little handful of tribute.

So a smart Yankee ship

Now and then they’d equip,

Whatever might cost them to rig it;

And our good-natured folks

Sent our fine native oaks

Abroad in an Algerine frigate!

Thus, instead of the stars

That should wave from our spars,

Her peak bore the infidel crescent;

But they soon thought that one,

Fraught with ballast alone,

Was no satisfactory present.

So, while we fought Britain,

That moment they hit on

To attack us with wonderful bravery;

And by way of broad hint,

To show what they meant,

They carried our tars into slavery.

And now we have leisure

To study their pleasure,

And something to spare of our lumber;

Since one ship in ballast,

Won’t soften their malice,

For peace sake, we send them a number:

A good store of guns,

To try if, for once,

To gratitude we can awake ’em;

And men in abundance,

Strong fellows, and sound ones,

They have nothing to do but to take ’em!

Our prisoners to ransom

We send something handsome,

In mettle undoubtedly current;

And powder in potions,

And similar notions,

That will cure their distemper, we warrant.

John Bull, once unruly,

Can certify truly,

Of our powder and pills, in the papers;

For their power, he affirms,

Cured his boys of the worms,

And relieved him from megrims and vapours!

Already the dey

Is much better, they say,

Having voided a couple of vermin!

And the doctor supposes

A few more such doses

His obstinate case will determine.

Such, such is the tribute

We Yankees exhibit,

On every such trying occasion;

If this don’t convince

The Barbarian prince,

He is past all the art of persuasion!