Salvation Army Song

We're coming, we're coming our brave little band
On the right side of temperance we'll now take our stand
We never use tobacco because we think
That a man who will smoke is likely to drink

Chorus:

Away, away with rum by gum
With rum by gum, with rum by gum
Away, away with rum by gum
The song of the Salvation Army

Well we never eat cookies because they have yeast
And one little bite makes man like a beast
Now can you imagine a bigger disgrace
Than a man in the gutter with crumbs on his face

Chorus

Spoken:

I was hungry and they a gave me to eat.
        He was hungry and they gave him to eat.
I was thirsty and they gave me to drink
        He was thirsty and they gave him to drink
I was a sinner and they saved my soul.
        He was a sinner and they saved his soul.
Now all I do stand on this [bang] god-damned corner [bang] beating this [bang] god-damned [bang] drum.

Chorus

Well we never eat fruitcake because it has rum
And one little bite makes a man like a bum
Now can you imagine a sorrier sight
Than a man eating fruitcake until he got tight.

Chorus

When you meet a folk singer you haven't any choice
But to sit there and listen while he proves he has no voice
And the most shocking thing to image by far
Is a girl with a G-string upon her guitar

Chorus

We never drink beer 'cause beer is beer
One little bottle puts you on your ear.
Can you imagine a worser thing
Than a man drinking beer and then starting to sing?

Chorus

Spoken:

If I had all the beer in the world I'd throw it in the river. Yay!!
If I had all the whisky in the world, I'd throw it in the river. Yay!!
If I had all the gin in the world, I'd throw it in the river. Yay!!

Brethren let us sing hymn number fifteen.

Sung:

Wade in the water.
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water,
God's going to trouble the water.
[Slowly] Amen.

1962. Transcribed from a recording of Ash Alley Singers. Tucson, Arizona. A good performance.

The last part of the performance uses the song "Wade in the Water".

I have field collected a "testimonial" cante fable with a
chorus of "Salvation Army, Salvation Army, throw a nickel
on the drum save another drunken bum" which I believe is related.


Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtwVN6wRL_U