239
That Bloody War
'That Bloody War' burlesques the heroics of the Spanish-
American and the First World wars, with variant details character-
istic of folk song. It probably has a sheet-music or broadside origin,
and possibly a history of vaudeville or minstrel singing, but printed
record of it has not been found.
'That Bloody War.' From a phonograph recording made by Miss Aura
Helton, of Durham, and from a manuscript of the first stanza sent by
her. The copy of the recording is dated 1922; the MS, "about 1924."
It seems probable that the two dates have been transposed, or that both
MS and recording date from 1922; for the MS bears Miss Holton's
note, "There are innumerable verses I can get, I think ; I know the
melody," and the record containing the song is dated 1922.
1 McKinley called for volunteers ; I shouldered up my gun.
The first fat Spaniard that I saw, I dropped it down and
run.
That bloody war ! That bloody war !
2 The captain said : 'Why did you run ? Were you afraid to
die?'
I said : "Oh, no ! The reason I ran was 'cause I couldn't
fly!'
That bloody war ! That bloody war !
NATIVE AMERICAN BALLADS 551
3 The captain said the flag was down, to get it if I could.
I said, 'Oh, no! There're other men can do that just as
good.'
That bloody war! That bloody war!
4 The beans were awful greasy ; the meat was awful fat.
The rest were fighting Spaniards, but I was fighting that.
That bloody war! That bloody war!
5 I've chased all over Europe a-tryin' to save my life ;
Before I'll go to war again, I'll send my darling wife.
That bloody war! That bloody vKar!
6 There are a thousand verses more; I could sing them just
as well.
Before I'll sing another verse, I'll see you all in !
That bloody war ! That bloody war !
'Battle Ship of Maine.' From the John Burch Blaylock Collection.
1 McKinley called for volunteers
And I grabbed my gun ;
The Spaniards are sure coming,
I dropped my gun and run.
I was fighting about that battleship of Maine.
2 Why are you running?
Are you afraid to die?
The reason I am running
Is because I cannot fly.
I am fighting about that battleship of Maine.
3 Blood was running
And I was running too ;
Giving my feet good exercise
That nothing else could do.
I was fighting about that battleship of Maine.
4 They caught me oflF duty ;
I thought I'd lose my life.
Before I'd go back to war again
I'd send my darling wife —
To fight for that battleship of Maine.
5 I saw the Spaniards coming,
I fell upon my knees ;
The first thing I put my arms on
552 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
Was a great big pot of peas.
I was fighting about that battleship of Maine.
6 The peas they were greasy,
The meat it was fat ;
The soldiers were fighting Spaniards
While I was fighting that.
It's all about that battleship of Maine.
7 What kind of shoes
Do the Rough Riders wear?
Buttoned on the side.
Cost five and a half a pair.
It was all about that battleship of Maine.
8 What kind of shoes
Do the old soldiers wear ?
Old brogans that cost
Four dollars a pair.
It was all about that battleship of Maine.
'It's Bloody War.' With music. From Kate S. Russell, of Roxboro
Person county. A phonograph recording of the song was made by her
at Roxboro c. 1923.
I The President called for volunteers ;
I shouldered my big gun.
The first old German that I saw,
I dropped my gun and run.
Chorus:
It's bloody war,
It's bloody war.
2 The captain said, 'Our flag is down.
Won't you go bring it on?'
I said, 'No, let the old thing stay;
We've plenty more at home.'
3 The captain said to fire at will.
I said, 'Which one is he?'
And that old fool, he got mad.
And shot his gun at me.
'Bloody Wars.' With music. From Miss Mary Scarborough, Dare
county, who made a phonograph recording in 1923. Stanza i varies
slightly from B i ; otherwise, the same.
NATIVE AMERICAN BALLADS 553
The President called for volunteers ;
I shouldered my big gun.
The first old German that I saw,
I dropped my gun, and shouted —
'Bloody wars,
Bloody wars!'
-----------------
239
That Bloody War
'That Bloody War.' Sung by Miss Aura Holton. Recorded at Durham in 1922.
The melody is almost the same as that of the following version 239C. The
ending somewhat reminds of 'Frankie and Johnnie,' or 'He Done Her Wrong'
(251 below).
Scale: Heptachordal. Tonal Center: b-flat. Structure: aa^b (4,4,4) = mm^n
=: barform. It is interesting to observe that b consists of two measures which
are repeated on a different pitch level.
'It's Bloody War.' Sung by Kate S. Russell. Recorded at Roxboro, Person
county, about 1923. Almost identical with the preceding version. Cf. also
EFSSC 77, 'Earl Richard.'
Scale: Heptachordal. Tonal Center: c. Structure: aa^b (4,4,4). Again b
consists of bb (2,2), which represents a motive merely transposed when re-
peated. The whole again = mm^n = barform.