I first heard this song from Tom Glazer's "Musical Heritage of America" volume I, (CBC Records, 1974). It is also included in The Burl Ives song book ; American Song In Historical Perspective, c1953. Although I have heard that it was written to the tune "Brennan on the Moor", Glazer plays it in an upbeat, light-hearted manner.

A little bit of background on the battle that this song talks about. "Gentleman" Johnny Burgoyne was the darling and dandy of the British army, and he fancied himself as much. He brought down an entourage of excess with him on his campaign, along with delicacies and fineries to eat and amuse himself with. There were quite a few wagons of just his stuff that it took the army far too long to get where they were going. The plan of the battle was to penetrate into the interior of the colonies and go directly east to where Boston was. Also, from the south, Cornwallis would move north, the British envisioned that they would squeeze the colonies by this ill-conceived tactic. But, they were unprepared for the terrain and they were unfamiliar with it as well. Gates, the American general, was nicknamed "Granny Gates" by his troops because he wore his spectacles down on his nose and had a feminine face that made him look like an old grandmother. His wife pressed him to snatch away the number one ranking the Continental Congress granted George Washington. Gates was for quite some time, conspiring against Washington rather than doing his plans for battle. He was credited with the victory but hardly did anything in reality to cause it. The mention of "Baum" and the "Hessians" were the German mercenary soldiers who were pressed into service for the British, many taken from their homelands unwilling by order of one of the King Fredericks. For reasons no one has come up with an adequate answer for, Burgoyne sent out Baum who didn't understand English really didn't understand his orders, and who was sent rather blindly towards Bennington, Vermont. (See "The Riflemen Of Bennington"). John Stark and the Green Mountain boys of Vermont routed Baum and his confused troops. In the final stanza, mention is made of General Herkimer, who was stationed in the rural south to midwest of the state of New York. Although Gates did luck out by gaining the responsibility for the victory of this battle, it was a decisive blow against the British, and the victory should not in any way be underestimated. There is a famous painting of Burgoyne handing over his sword to Gates. The Yankees, as always in our American tradition, prided themselves on their commonness, and of their own lack of uniform and dress. Burgoyne returned to England in defeat and took up a career as an actor; Gates will forever be known as "Galloping Gates" when he took troops down south to help the Swamp Fox defeat Cornwallis (see "Cornwallis Country Dance") and when it seemed that his troops were outmatched, deserted them. The song takes place in the year of October 7, 1777.


THE BATTLE OF SARATOGA
^^
Come unto me ye heroes, and I the truth will tell,
Concerning many a soldier, who for his country fell.
Burgoyne, the King's commander, and cursed Tory crew,
With Indians and Canadians, he up Lake Champlain flew.
He up Lake Champlain flew, he up Lake Champlain flew,
With Indians and Canadians, he up Lake Champlain flew.

Before the Ticonderoga, full well both night and day,
Their motions we observed, before the bloody fray.
Burgoyne sent Baum to Bennington, with Hessians there he went,
To plunder and to murder, was fully their intent.
Was fully their intent, was fully their intent,
To plunder and to murder, was fully their intent.

But little did they know then, with whom they had to deal,
It was not quite so easy, our stores and stocks to steal.
Stark would only give them a portion of his lead,
With half his crew 'ere sunset, Baum lay among the dead.
Baum lay among the dead, Baum lay among the dead,
With half his crew 'ere sunset, Baum lay among the dead.

The Nineteenth of September, the morning cool and clear,
Gates addressed his army, each soldier's heart to cheer.
"Burgoyne" he cried, "advances, but we will never fly,
But rather than surrender, we'll fight 'em till we die!"
We'll fight 'em till we die!" We'll fight 'em till we die!"
But rather than surrender, we'll fight 'em till we die!"

The Seventh of October, they did capitulate,
Burgoyne and his proud army we did our prisoner take.
And vain was their endeavor, our men to terrify,
Though death was all around us, not one of us would fly.
Not one of us did would, not one of us did would fly,
Though death was all around us, not one of us would fly.

Now here's a health to Herkimer, and our commander Gates,
To freedom and to Washington, whom every Tory hates.
Likewise unto our Congress, God grant it long to reign,
Our country, rights, and justice, forever to maintain.
Forever to maintain, forever to maintain,
Our country, rights, and justice, forever to maintain.