Lyr Add: YANKEE LAD/The Tea Tax

Subject: Lyr Add: YANKEE LAD
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 01 Jul 26 - 05:48 PM

From the Levy Collection
levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu/collection/016/051

THE TEA TAX
By: T. Comer
Published: Bradlee - Boston
Date: none


I snum I am a Yankee lad, and I guess I will sing this ditty,
And if you do not relish it, the more will be the pity,
That is, I think I should have been a plague sight more finished man,
If I had been born in Boston Town,
But I warn't cause I am a Countryman.
Tol rol de ra, Ri de rid dle, id dle right tol de da.

And t'other day we yankee folks were mad about the taxes
And so we went, like Indians dress'd, to split Tea chests with axes,t
I mean twas done in seventy five, I mean we was real gritty
The Mayor he would a led the gang, but Boston warn't a city.

Ye see we Yankees didn't care a pin for wealth or booty,
And so in State street we agreed we'd never pay the Duty,
Twas in State street would have been, but twas King street, they called it then,
And tax on Tea it was so bad, the Women wouldn't scale it then.

To Charleston bridge we all went down to see the thing corrected,
That is we would have gone there, but the Bridge it warn't errected;
The Tea perhaps was very good, Bohea, Shoueahong, or Hysen,
But drinking Tea, it warn't the rage, the duty made it poison.

And then we went aboard the ships our vengeance to administer
And didn't give a tarnel curse for any King or Minister
We made a plaguy mess o' Tea in one of the biggest dishes,
I mean we steeped it in the sea, and treated all the fishes.

And then you see, we all found out, a thing we hadn't dreaded,
The leaders were to London sent and instantly beheaded.
That is I mean, they would have been if ever they had been taken,
The Leaders they were never cotch'd, and so they saved their bacon.

Now Heaven bless the President and all this goodly nation,
And doubly bless our Boston Mayor and all the corporation,
And may all those who are our foes, or at our praise have faltered,
Soon have a change, that is, I mean, all of them get haltered.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: YANKEE LAD
From: GerryM
Date: 01 Jul 26 - 06:04 PM

Merriam-Webster defines "snum" as "vow, declare", and says the etymology is unknown. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snum

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: YANKEE LAD
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 01 Jul 26 - 06:15 PM

I take it to be a contraction of:
"I assume to be"

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Lighter would have the definitive answer. It is peculiar.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: YANKEE LAD
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 01 Jul 26 - 06:29 PM

Thank You Gerry ...

It makes perfect sense within these lyrics.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Graduation from H.S. I was gifted a ten pound copy , kids enjoyed looking up the "F" section.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: YANKEE LAD
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Jul 26 - 07:04 PM

Thanks, Garg. I see it has nothing to do with the Jimmie Driftwood song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: YANKEE LAD/The Tea Tax
From: Bearheart
Date: 06 Jul 26 - 06:19 PM

Lovely song and so timely! Do e have a tune for this? I know a number of people who would be glad to sing it. (myself included!)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: YANKEE LAD/The Tea Tax
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 06 Jul 26 - 07:19 PM

The tune/melody/chords are printed PDF on the Levy Sheet Music Collection - noted above.

Very catchy tune.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Lyrics awkward.