American Old Time Song Lyrics: 53 Jean And Jacques Were Twins
Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 53
Jean and Jacques Were Twins.
Copyright, 1896, by T. B. Harms & Co.
Words by J. Cheever Goodwin, Music by Woulson Morse.
Oh, Jean and Jacques were twins-
It is thus the tale begins -
Who both were soldiers brave and bold,
And served their country, not for gold;
For, for all Golconda's wealth untold
They did not care two pins.
Ta-ra-ta, ta-ra-ra! they did not care two pins;
But they longed for fame and glory-
At least so goes the story;
For, 'twixt you and me,
They were young, you see,
And romantic as youths are prone to be;
So they yearned for the field of battle,
Where the spiteful rifles rattle;
For to wade through gore,
Where the cannon's roar
Was their beans' desire, so these Idiots swore
But they longed for fame and glory-
At least so goes the story-
For, 'twin you and me,
They were young, you see,
And romantic, us youths are prone to be;
So they yearned for the field of battle.
Where the spiteful rifles rattle;
For, to wade through gore.
Where the cannon's roar
Was their hearts' desire, so these Idiots swore.
At last, on one fine day-
So the tale goes on to say-
Their Colonel said, "By all that's blue,
You boast so much of what you'll do,
That I think I'll give a chance to you
Your courage to display.
Ta-ra-ra, ta-ra-ra! your courage to display.
To the one who proves more daring,
I'll give this cross I'm wearing;
You may take a week,
During which to seek
An occasion to do some deed unique
That will show you, to fear, are strangers,
And prepared to face all dangers,
In a week return,
So that I may learn
What you each have done your reward to earn!"
"To the one who proves more daring,
I'll give this cross I'm wearing;
You may take a week.
During which to seek
An occasion to do some deed unique
That will snow you, to fear, are strangers,
And prepared to face all dangers,
In a week return,
So that I may learn
What you each have done the reward to earn."
Jean's ardor naught could quell-
So ths tale goes on to tell-
He, when the week allowed was o'er,
Had slaughtered of the foe a score,
And captured nearly twenty more-
The Colonel said, "'Tis well!"
Ta-ra-ra, ta-ra-ra! the Colonel said, "'Tis well!"
But to Jean, although applauded,
The cross was not awarded,
But to Jacques instead.,
Who, with drooping head
And a stammering voice, to the Colonel said,
"I can boast of my wholesale slaughter,
But I've wed your red-haired daughter.
By the risk I've run,
Has the cross been won?"
Said the Colonel, "Sure! in a walk, my son!"
But to Jean, although applauded,
The cross was not awarded,
But to Jacques instead,
Who, with drooping head
And a stammering voice, to the Colonel said,
"I can boast of no wholesale slaughter,
But I've wed your red-haired daughter.
By the risk I've run,
Has the cross been won?"
Said the Colonel, "Sure! in a walk, my son!"