Billy Blue U.S. Marine by G.C. Reid Lyrics

He's a rattling good soldier and a corkin' sailor too
And it's bis, always bis, that he means;
He's on deck for all the fighting and his motto's—"Ever true";
He is "Private Blue, United States Marines."

Then it's: Hi! get your gun, Billy Blue
There's going to be some fun, Billy Blue
And it doesn't cut a figger
If it's "Chinee," "Don," or "Nigga,"
When your finger's on the trigger, Billy Blue!

He first fought old Johnny Bull when his foot was on our neck
Then in 1812 he fought him on the sea;
Again with Scott in Mexico he store Chapultepec
And in '61 hеlped make the bondmеn free

So it's: Throw out your chest, Billy Blue
For there're medals on your breast, Billy Blue
And tho' you ain't the man to brag
You were never known to lag
In following the flag, Billy Blue
There were sixty of his comrades that went down with the "Maine,"
But he raised the flag in Cuba first of all;
He's been at it in Manila and he's at it now again
Out in China, where he opened up the "ball."

So it's: Strike up the band, Billy Blue
You're the finest in the land, Billy Blue;
For we all know where you've been
On the wall of old Pekin
And in the trenches at Tien Tsin, Billy Blue