The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #166662 Message #4009297
Posted By: Lighter
17-Sep-19 - 10:52 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: James Bird
Subject: Lyr Add: James Bird
Tastes sure change. Though there's a fragmentary text in the DT with a tune, I can't find any Mudcat discussion of this early American ballad, which the Ballad Index shows to have been one of the most frequently collected, from Ontario to Oklahoma, New York to Texas.
The original poem, by editor Charles Miner, as printed in the Wilkes-Barre, Pa., _Gleaner_ (June, 1815):
_JAMES BIRD_. - A BALLAD
1. SONS of pleasure, listen to me, And ye daughters, too give ear; You a sad and mournful story, As was ever told, shall hear.
2. Hull, you know, his troops surrender’d, And defenceless left the west; Then our forces quick assembled, The invader to resist.
3. ’Mongst the troops that march’d to Erie, Were the KINGSTON VOLUNTEERS; Captain THOMAS them commanded, To protect our west frontiers.
4. Tender were the scenes of parting: Mothers wrung their hands and cry’d: Maidens wept their swains in secret: Fathers strove their tears to hide.
5. But there’s one among the number, Tall and graceful is his mien: Firm his step—his look undaunted; Ne’er a nobler youth was seen.
6. One sweet kiss he snatched from MARY: Craved his mother’s pray’rs once more; Press’d his father’s hand, and left them, Lake Erie’s distant shore.
7. MARY tried to say, “farewell, JAMES,” Waved her hand—but nothing spoke; “Good-bye, BIRD, may heaven preserve you,” From the rest at parting broke.
8. Soon they came where noble PERRY, Had assembled all his fleet; There the gallant Bird enlisted, Hoping soon the foe to meet.
9. Where is BIRD?—the battle rages— Is he in the strife or no? Now the cannon roar tremendous; Dare he meet the furious foe?
10. Aye—behold him! see, with PERRY, In the self-same ship they fight; Though his mess-mates fall around him, Nothing can his soul affright.
11. But behold! a ball has struck him; See the crimson current flow. “Leave the deck,” exclaim’d brave PERRY, “No,” cried BIRD, “I will not go.”
12. “Here on deck I took my station: “Ne’er will BIRD his colours fly: “I’ll stand by you, gallant captain, “’Till we conquer or we die.”
13. Still he fought, though faint and bleeding, ’Till our stars and stripes arose, Vict’ry having crown’d our efforts, All triumphant o’er our foes.
14. And did BIRD recieve a pension? [sic] Was he to his friends restored? No—nor ever to his bosom, Clasped the maid his heart adored.
15. But there came most dismal tidings, From Lake Erie’s distant shore; Better if poor BIRD had perish’d, ’Midst the battle’s awful roar!
16. “Dearest Parents,” said the letter, “This will bring sad news to you; “Do not mourn your first beloved, “Though this brings his last adieu.
17. “I must suffer for deserting, “From the brig Niagara; “Read this letter, brothers, sisters, “’Tis the last you’ll hear from me.”
18. Sad and gloomy was the morning, BIRD was ordered out to die. Where’s the breast not dead to pity, But for him would heave a sigh?
19. O! he fought so brave at Erie; Freely bled and nobly dared: Let his courage plead for mercy! Let his precious life be spared!
20. See him march! and hear his fetters! Harsh, they clang upon the ears! But his step is firm and manly, For his heart ne’er harbour’d fear.
21. See, he kneels upon his coffin! Sure his death can do no good; Spare him! hark!—O God, they’ve shot him; Oh! his bosom streams with blood!
22. Farewell, BIRD—farewell forever. Friends and home he’ll see no more; But his mangled corpse lies buried, On Lake Erie’s distant shore.
Traci Longworth of Jamestown Community College has a wonderfully detailed article on Bird and the ballad in The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography (Jan., 2018, pp. 49-81.