Lyr Req: I'm Captain of the Army(?)

Subject: Lyr Req: I'm Captain of the Army(?)
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Aug 19 - 01:26 PM

I recall my mother singfing: I'm captain Jinks of the horse
                              marines
                              I feed my horse on corn and beans

                           
                              And often live beyond my means
                              I'm captain of thw rm,

      Does anyone know the rest of the lyrics?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Captain of the Army(?)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 08 Aug 19 - 02:05 PM

Music Hall Song 'Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines' American 1862. There's a copy in 'Heart Songs' a well-known song book by Chapple. I'd be surprised if there wasn't a full copy on the Lester Levy sheet music website.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Captain of the Army(?)
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Aug 19 - 02:07 PM

As a kid I sang this as part of a voice recital, and it was a fun song then! For some reason, I recall there were also little asides after each of the verses... might have come from a music hall rendition, and I am sure I didn’t “get” the references, but pretty sure they were there somewhere. Here’s what I recall from memory... the first four lines were an “a” part similar to the chorus, the second four lines were a “b” part starting on the IV chord.

I am Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines
I often live beyond my means
I sport young ladies in their teens
To cut a swell in the army
I teach young ladies how to dance
How to dance, how to dance
I teach young ladies how to dance
For I’m their pet in the army

I... am... Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines
I give my horse good corn and beans
Of course ’tis quite beyond my means
Though a Captain in the army

I joined my corps when twenty-one
Of course, I thought it capital fun
When the enemy came, then off I run
I wasn’t cut out for the army
When I left home, Mamma she cried
Mamma she cried, Mamma she cried
When I left home, Mammy she cried
“He ain’t cut out for the army.”

The first day I went out to drill
The bugle-sound made me quite ill
At the balance-step, my hat it fell
And that won’t do for the army
The officers they all did shout
They all cried out, they all did shout
The officers they all did shout
“Oh! that’s the cure for the army.”

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Captain of the Army(?)
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 08 Aug 19 - 02:30 PM

Lyrics online.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Captain of the Army(?)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 08 Aug 19 - 03:38 PM

Here's a link to the words and music in the book Steve referenced above Captain Jinks (Chapple, Heart Songs, 1909)


And as he also suggested, a copy of the sheet music is available at Levy: Captain Jinks (Wittig & co, Philadelphia, 1868), which you can look at or download as pdf.


Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Captain of the Army(?)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 09 Aug 19 - 02:53 PM

Cheers, Mick. Always reliable. I recently gave away my 2 editions of HS in a cull.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Captain of the Army(?)
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Aug 19 - 08:34 PM

It's the weirdest thing, but the lyrics are here, at Mudcat, too.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Captain of the Army(?)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 10 Aug 19 - 03:24 AM

Careless of me not to check Jeri!. As well as the song entry in DT (Jeri's link), there is a whole thread devoted to the song: Lyr Req: Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines with links to many sources for the words and some discussion of the song.

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Captain of the Army(?)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Aug 19 - 11:56 AM

Many thanjs, everyone, especially Jeri who found it in front of my nose on Mudcat!