If we're collecting songs about sauerkraut, we might as well have this one. Naturally, I ran across it while searching for SAUERKRAUT IS BULLY. Who knew that J.P. Sousa wrote songs as well as brass-band music? From the sheet music at the Levy collection:


THE FREE-LUNCH CADETS
Words and music by John Philip Sousa
Philadelphia: J. M. Stoddart & Co., 1877.
"Sung with great applause by Griffin & Rice"

1. We circumnavigate the town for ev'ry free-lunch bar.
We go from east to west and back, and travel wide and far.
We sometimes get into a bar where lunch has just run out,
And all that's left to feed upon is the smell of sauerkraut.
We're always near to take a beer when we've a chance to beat,
And while we're here, we'll tell our fare, and what we get to eat:

CHORUS: Oh, sauerkraut and barley soup, and corn-beef by the slice,
Red herrings sprinkled o'er with salt, we tell you they are nice.
Limburger cheese and mushroom pie, and hot corn by the ear—
You wouldn't have, you couldn't get, a better bill of fare. REPEAT

2. We're drumming up recruits today, to join our noble band.
We want you all to sign your name, and lend a helping hand.
You'll have a free and easy time. It's jolly, you can bet,
To be a member and be called a prime free-lunch cadet.
We're always near to take a beer when we've a chance to beat,
And while we're here we'll tell our fare, and what we get to eat. CHORUS


[Nowadays I'm happy to find a bar with free popcorn.]