The Grand Backing-Out.

20

[Written for the Clay Melodist.]
BY JOHN H. WARLAND.
TUNE — "The Hunters of Kentucky."

Good people all, who like a song,
In country town or city,
I'm sure you will not deem it wrong
To join me in a ditty.
And quick begin, ere all back out,
These candidates unlucky,

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And leave us none to sing about
But Harry of Kentucky.

CHO. — Oh, Kentucky — the Statesman of Kentucky.

I s'pose you've heard when Captain Scott
Was out one day a hunting,
A feeble coon, sure to be shot,
Came down the tree a grunting, —
"Now Capting, dont — I beg you'll not —
So, just put up that rifle, —
Bless'd — if I'll sit here and be shot!
I will give in a trifle."

CHO. — Oh, Kentucky, &c.

But this was in old Hick'ry's day,
When coons were weak and shy, sir.
Now cock your gun and blaze away —
Faith, back they cock their eye, sir;
More thick than leaflets on the trees,
They've grown as strong as thunder —
And not a fox a coon that sees,
But knows he must knock under.

CHO. — Oh, Kentucky, &c.

So when the Whigs call'd old Kentuck
To lead them to the battle,
The Lokeys to their heels all took
Before the shot did rattle;
And to escape thus with leg bail
They thought themselves quite lucky —
For well they know that never fail
The rifles of Kentucky.

CHO. — Oh, Kentucky, &c.

22

Yes, times is changed — Buchanan, Dick
Tecumpsey, and Calhoun, sir,
Give in, and so without a kick
Knock under to the coons, sir.
And thus you see, good people all,
Exactly how the case is —
Like crabs they run and backward crawl,
While none dare take their places.

CHO. — Oh, Kentucky, &c.

Cries Jim Buchanan in a fright,
"'Tis much I'd like to run, sir,
But if Kentuck is in the fight
I cannot stand the fun, sir;
And, demme! if at all I runs
'Twill be the other way, sir —
And being lame, I'll start at once,
Ere kicked down by this racer."

CHO. — Oh, Kentucky, &c.

Up starts Calhoun, when he espied
Kentucky's charger dash on —
"I'm blow'd if I'll be nullified
In this ere whirlwind fashion,
I'll seize the opportunity
To slip behind my cotton,
And see Van's shirt-democracy
Used up — the misbegotten."

CHO. — Oh, Kentucky, &c.

Then snorts short-winded Kinderhook
"This third heat, I must go it —
And if you've botton, Van, odzook!
'Tis now you've got to show it:

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The world is all agog to see
This Hal lay on the lashes —
They dub him, for his cuts at me,
The Old Boy of the Slashes.

CHO. — Oh, Kentucky, &c.

"Calhoun and Rives turn on their heel,
And publish such a whapper,
About my running to the de'il
Without a check or stopper!
To shirk I'm half unanimous —
Confound it! how unlucky!
That he should win the people thus,
This pet son of Kentucky."

CHO. — Oh, Kentucky, &c.

In Forty, if you lost your legs,
Care not a piece of chalk, sir;
We'll screw you tight, with springs and pegs,
Unto new legs of cork, sir;
And then, Van, fast enough you'll run —
Don't crawl upon the shelf, sir,
All of you left by Harri-son,
We'll whip with Harry's self, sir.

CHO. — Oh, Kentucky — the Statesman of Kentucky.