Were You in Boston in 1919?
By Stephen L. Suffet © 2008
From the CD Low Rent District
3/4 time, key of A.

A                                                
Ah, | Were you in | Bos-ton in | nine-teen nine-| teen?


                A7            E7                  
| Were you in | old Bos-ton | town?|

      A                            D               
Mo- | las-ses did | flood like a | brown wall of | mud. |


   E7                         A
| Were you in | old Bos-ton | town?    |       |


Start on chorus:
Ah, were you in Boston in 1919?
Were you in old Boston town?
Molasses did flood like a brown wall of mud.
Were you in old Boston town?

They built a big tank at the foot of Copp's Hill.
Were you in old Boston town?
And up to the top that big tank they did fill.
Were you in old Boston town?

Four years had passed since they last took a peek.
Were you in old Boston town?
To see if that tank would would dribble or leak.
Were you in old Boston town?

[Repeat chorus.]

The foreman had told them, "Just fill it half way."
Were you in old Boston town?
He said the old tank would be safer that way.
Were you in old Boston town?

The owner said, "Fill it way up to the top."
Were you in old Boston town?
So the crew didn't stop 'til the rivets went "Pop!"
Were you in old Boston town?

[Repeat chorus.]

The rivets went "Pop!" like the burp of a gun.
Were you in old Boston town?
And I thought once again I was facing the Hun.
Were you in old Boston town?

But it wasn't a German, and it wasn't a Red.
Were you in old Boston town?
And it wasn't a Russian left twenty-one dead.
Were you in old Boston town?

No, it wasn't a German, and it wasn't a Red.
Were you in old Boston town?
Just the rich owner's own greed that left twenty-one dead.
Were you in old Boston town?

[Repeat chorus twice.]