4th of July

Original song: "American Pie" by Don McLean

Play the performance
by Gary Hermann
from
The BKSG Show
July 5, 2008

A long, long time ago
Folks up in New England
Started getting mad at George the Third
And they knew if they got their chance
That they could cozy up to France
And maybe then their grievance would be heard

So Franklin headed off to Paris
While England's ruler tried to dare us
With undue taxation
Without representation

We threw some tea into the bay
While we chanted "let's go, USA"
But George said that we had to pay
Or kiss ourselves goodbye

And my, my, what a 4th of July
Declaration for a nation
Givin' freedom a try
And although we know that some are going to die
Now it's time to tell the British goodbye
(Years from now we may wonder why)

Did you read about the scene
Of how dawn arrived April nineteen
With a shot heard 'round the world
The British marched to Boston Mass.
But every step they were harrassed
As insults, rocks, and bullets all were hurled

Well, we took Ticonderoga fort
And the weapons gave our troops support
Then Congress took a vote
And they knew just who to promote

They gave the army to George Washington
And they told him "fight until the war is won"
So he picked up his trusty gun
And said he'd serve with pride

He started singin'
My, my, what a 4th of July
Declaration for a nation
Givin' freedom a try
And though we know that some are going to die
Now it's time to tell the British goodbye
(Years from now we may wonder why)

Now we battled on near Bunker Hill
Ran out of ammo, not out of will
And therefore we all had to flee
Sent an Olive Branch to the English king
But he wouldn't even read the thing
Thought he'd rule us all from 'cross the sea

Oh, but while the king was showing scorn
The U.S. Navy - it was born
And Paine wrote "Common Sense"
Calling all dissidents
And while British fled from Boston town
We planned to split off from the crown
And Spain and France both came around
And said they're on our side

We were singing
My, my, what a 4th of July
Declaration for a nation
Givin' freedom a try
And though we know that some are going to die
Now it's time to tell the British goodbye
(Years from now we may wonder why)

Finding shelter in the summer swelter
The Congress worked on its best seller
Jefferson was writing fast
Virginia said we should act
The British said "don't or we'll attack"
Then the Congress took a ballot and it passed

Now the states still had to hear the news
But the British navy didn't snooze
They gave a show of force
Oh, but we never strayed off course
When they offered peace and clemency
George Washington said "not for me,
I want to live among the free
Your offers are denied"

He started singing
My, my, what a 4th of July
Declaration for a nation
Givin' freedom a try
And though we know that some are going to die
Now it's time to tell the British goodbye
(Years from now we may wonder why)

Oh, and then the Redcoats caught a spy
Without a trial hanged him high
He wished he had more lives to lose
So come on: ships be nimble, ships be quick
Give their flotilla such a kick
But in the end our navy got abused

Oh, and then they launched a new attack
They took Ticonderoga back
Marquis de LaFayette
Now looked like our best bet
And as the Congress struggled to compose
Confederation articles
Philadelphia fell back to our foes
The British moved inside

They were singing
My, my, what a 4th of July
Declaration for a nation
Givin' freedom a try
And though we know that some are going to die
Now it's time to tell the British goodbye
(Years from now we may wonder why)

Then in New York the British won
And we thought the revolution's done
But we escaped to fight again
Georgia fell, things were looking dim
As the war was turning mighty grim
And it looked like there's no way that we could win

Survival was our only goal
"These are the times that try men's souls"
But in this time of crisis
We got help from our allies
And the British had to fight a war
Against the French and so many more
It wasn't very long before
Their help had turned the tide

And they were singing
My, my, what a 4th of July
Declaration for a nation
Givin' freedom a try
And although we know that some are going to die
Now it's time to tell the British goodbye
(Years from now we may wonder why)

They were singing
My, my, what a 4th of July
Declaration for a nation
Givin' freedom a try
And though we know that some are going to die
Now it's time to tell the British goodbye