American Old Time Song Lyrics: 02 The German Fifth

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 2

THE GERMAN FIFTH
Sung by our German Senator, Gus Williams.

Of you'll look at us your oud,
You vill see some soldiers gay
Ve belong to de German Fifth,
Dat bromenades upon Broadway.
Ve march awhile in single file,
Den ve change to two-by-two;
You bet ve make de beoble smile
Ven ve march dot sidy drough.

Chorus.
Double rank-vatch de flank­Don't dat vas a splendid drill?
Mark dot time-ain't dot fine?
Ven ve march ve don't stand sdill.
Houp-a-la! shout hurrah!
Dot's de vay dot's sure to kill;
Right face about, go inside oud-
Hurrah for de German Fifth!

Ven ve vas in dot army
Ve vas fed on barrel staves;
Und ven ve don't vas fight,
Ve had to vork at digging graves;
Und ve got 60 sick una thin, dot
You could easily see us drough;
Und somedimes dey kept us marching
Dill your feet vas black und blue.-Chorus.

But now ve are home-guard brivates,
Ve got blenty grub to eat!
Dutchmen all are jealous of us,
Ven ve march along de sdreed.
Arms quick present und elbows bent,
Eyes to right und heads up straight,
Mit left und right, und moud shut tight-
A mile a day dot vas our gait.-Chorus.