PORK, BEANS, AND HARDTACK
Verse 1:
A
Our volunteers are solidiers bold,
D Bm
so say the people all.
E7
When duty calls they spring to arms,
A
responsive to the call.
With outfits old and rotten clothes,
D Bm
ill fitted for the strife!
E7
They leave their homes on starving pay,
A
to take the nitchies' life.
Refrain:
C# F#m
Pork, beans, and hard-tack,
C# F#m
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la,
B7 E7
Poor, hungry soldiers,
B7 E7
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
A
In rags we march the prairie,
D Bm
most eager for the fray.
E7
But when we near the enemy
A
they always run away.
As Corporation laborers
D Bm
with fa-ti-gue each day
E7
We dig and scrape
and hoe and rake
A
for fifty cents a day!
Verse 2
A
Faint, cold and weary,
D Bm
we're packed on an open car
E7
Cursing our fate and grumbling
A
as soldiers ever are.
Hungry and thirsty,
D Bm
over the C.P.R. we go.
E7
Instead of by the all-rail-route
A
Detroit and Chicago.
Refrain:
C# F#m
Pork, beans, and hard-tack,
C# F#m
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la,
B7 E7
Poor, hungry soldiers,
B7 E7
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
A
In rags we march the prairie,
D Bm
most eager for the fray.
E7
But when we near the enemy
A
they always run away.
As Corporation laborers
D Bm
with fa-ti-gue each day
E7
We dig and scrape
and hoe and rake
A
for fifty cents a day!
Verse 3
A
On half cooked beans and fat pork,
D Bm
we're fed without relief.
E7
Save when we get a change of grub
A
on hard-tack and corned beef!
On fat-ti-gue and guards all day,
D Bm
patrols and pickets by night,
E7
It's thus we while our time away,
A
Our duty seems ne'er to fight!
Refrain:
C# F#m
Pork, beans, and hard-tack,
C# F#m
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la,
B7 E7
Poor, hungry soldiers,
B7 E7
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
A
In rags we march the prairie,
D Bm
most eager for the fray.
E7
But when we near the enemy
A
they always run away.
As Corporation laborers
D Bm
with fa-ti-gue each day
E7
We dig and scrape
and hoe and rake
A
for fifty cents a day!
Verse 4
A
Down the wild Saskatchewan
D
in river boats we go.
E7
At last we reach Lake Winnipeg
A
where a tug takes us in tow.
On board a barge two regiments
D Bm
are shoved into the hold.
E7
Like sardines in a box we're packed
A
600 men all told!
Refrain:
C# F#m
Pork, beans, and hard-tack,
C# F#m
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la,
B7 E7
Poor, hungry soldiers,
B7 E7
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
A
In rags we march the prairie,
D Bm
most eager for the fray.
E7
But when we near the enemy
A
they always run away.
As Corporation laborers
D Bm
with fa-ti-gue each day
E7
We dig and scrape
and hoe and rake
A
for fifty cents a day!
Verse 5
A
Down the length of Winnipeg Lake,
D Bm
We roll throughout the night.
E7
And on we're towed along the Lake
A
till Selkirk is in sight.
We disembark in double quick time,
D Bm
We once more board a train;
E7
We're on our way for Winnipeg,
A
we're getting near home again!
Refrain:
C# F#m
Pork, beans, and hard-tack,
C# F#m
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la,
B7 E7
Poor, hungry soldiers,
B7 E7
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
A
In rags we march the prairie,
D Bm
most eager for the fray.
E7
But when we near the enemy
A
they always run away.
As Corporation laborers
D Bm
with fa-ti-gue each day
E7
We dig and scrape
and hoe and rake
A
for fifty cents a day!