American Old Time Song Lyrics: 32 Boys Together

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 32

BOYS TOGETHER.
Written by John P. Harrington. Words by Orlando Powell.

What's so dear in life as friendship?
Sure, it fills the heart with bliss.
For the rough hand of a true friend
Is as sweet as woman's kiss.
Micky Free and I were children,
Schoolmates in the motherland;
Fished the streams and robbed the orchard,
Got in trouble, hand in band;
Then we went to sea together.
And where big waves rolled in strife,
I fell overboard, and Micky
Dared the waves and saved my life.

Chorus.
Boys together, men together, Micky and I have been.
Holding each other as dear as a brother, nobody came between;
Loving playmates at school, loving playmates at sea.
Sure I d lay my life down for Micky, my pal, and he'd do the same for me.

When a fair colleen I courted
With a first love, fond and true,
'Twas with sorrow I was learning
That my old friend loved her, too.
When I told him-" Never mind, lad,
Let the best man win! "said he;
And with fair field and no favor.
Faith, her dear hand fell to me;
Ah! it wounds his brave heart sorely.
Yet his friendship never stirs;
"There's my hand! you've fairly won her,
I am still your friend and hers." -Chorus.

When the big ship stood at anchor,
Mick and I made all the noise;
For we kissed the girls together.
And he helped me thrash the boys.
And if I rowed with a policeman,
And he acted somewhat odd.
He'd a mighty rough five minutes
Ere he ran me into quod;
Once they took me on a shutter,
'Twas a shameful trick to do;
"What! take my old pal?" cried Micky,
"Faith, where he goes I'll go tool"-Chorus.

In my berth I had been sleeping,
In mid-ocean, one dark night.
When I woke and saw, great Heavens!
A wild glare of lurid light.
Leaping, glowing like a furnace,
"Ship on fire! "I tried to speak.
But the flames pressed nearer, nearer.
And with hot tongues licked my check.
To the floor I reeled, but vainly
Tried to reach the cabin door.
When I felt Mick's strong arms lift me.
Murmured "saved I" and knew no more.-Chorus.