Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

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

Sir Peter Parker

Charles L. S. Jones

LET others sing, whilst loudly ring

The valleys to their measures,

Of love, or wine, or sports divine,

Made vocal by their pleasures;

Be mine the theme,

No fancied dream

Of visionary barker;

The warlike cheer,

And welcome here,

Of brave Sir Peter Parker.

Let not the muse her strains refuse,

Accordant to my metre,

Whilst I declare the exploits rare

Of valiant-hearted Peter;

Nor deem me wrong

To raise the song—

Of praise I am no sharker;

But let my shell

The wonders tell

Of brave Sir Peter Parker.

He oft would boast to rule the roast

Upon the briny ocean;

And scold and jeer with glorious cheer,

Expecting high promotion:

Whilst from his fun

The Yankees run,

As fearful of a jeering;

Lest like Van Tromp

Their hides he’d thump,

His broom at mast-head rearing.

Long had he sail’d, and nothing hail’d,

As worthy of a winner;

So did desire, to ease his ire,

A Baltimorean dinner;

And in he sent with that intent

His compliments, high sounding,

Whilst, from on board,

His thunders roar’d,

Their Yankee souls astounding.

But not to be behind in glee,

Or hospitable freedom,

They answer sent, he might have twent-

Y dinners if he’d need them;

O glorious feast,

For prince, or priest,

’Twould cure the gout or cholic;

Sir Peter swore,

He ne’er, before,

Saw such a Yankee frolic.

But most his tongue thy praises rung,

Jamaica’s lively liquor;

And swore, ’twas fit to enliven the wit

Of laymen or of vicar:

So not in fun

To be outdone,

They sent this gallant sparker,

Well season’d, home,

In his favourite rum,

The far-famed Peter Parker.