The Merztown Cornet Band

Subject: Pennsylvania Dutch
From: GUEST,sand
Date: 14 Jun 19 - 02:38 PM

I was looking at a Richard Dorson book and found this song. Looked it up and there are about 6 results on google for "The Merztown Cornet Band" or "Di Matztown cornet band".

Guessing it rhymes better in Pennsylvania Dutch

Here are the lyrics:

A cornet band plays in Merztown
And pays no rent
For the schoolhouse is given for their use
At a dollar for a whole year

There are twenty four men
Including big John Poe
Some are big and some are fat
Some are democrats and some are Whigs

Kuder teaches with ability,
he has a black beard
He teaches the band this evening
For a dollar and thirty cents

Billy Walbert blows bass
and say that it's a serious matter
He blows bass and looks as cross
as a cat at a big piece of cheese

Allen trexler, without joking,
blows the second bass
He lost his notebook
while going up the noodletown hill.

Milton schubert, the squire,
he plays the baritone
He plays his horn in good style
Though he still lacks hair on his chin.

Milton warmkessel, my dear people,
sleeps already with a wife
He plays the B trombone
with a face like a raccoon.

Denny webb also belongs to the group,
Now boys, play "red white and blue"
He plays tenor, oh so softly
He likes cake and wine.

Oliver schubert, think of this,
He also has a wife
He plays his horn up and down
and says it is a deuced job.

Isaac warmkessel, o my dear
Says the band members like beer
He plays alto for the band
Yankee Doodle, Dixie Land.

Then too, is Frantz Keiser
The greatest laugher in the band
He sticks to his D flat Coronet
Like a rooster to his nest.

Johnny barley, not a dope
He plays the little drum
He is young and small
But already tickles the girls.

Peter walbert, well learned
takes his club in hand
And beats the large drum
Peter Walbert is not dumb.

Last of all is Big John
Who is always present;
He keeps the band house in repair
He was along to Kutztown fair.

He is the man with the big hat
The ladies say that he looks good
He leads the parade through mud and mire,
And keeps the children out of the way.

Subject: RE: The Merztown Cornet Band
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 17 Jun 19 - 01:50 PM

"Some are democrats and some are Whigs" Based on a UK song?

Subject: RE: The Merztown Cornet Band
From: leeneia
Date: 18 Jun 19 - 12:08 PM

No. There were Whigs in American history too.

Subject: RE: The Merztown Cornet Band
From: leeneia
Date: 18 Jun 19 - 12:13 PM

Thanks for the info, sand. It sounds like an entertaining song. I believe its 'Mertztown'.