Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.

Hornet and Peacock—1813

YE Demo’s, attend, and ye Federals, too;

I’ll sing you a song that you all know is true,

Concerning the Hornet, true stuff, I’ll be bail;

That humbled the Peacock, and lower’d her tail.

Sing hubber, O, hubber, cries old Granny Weal,

The Hornet can tickle the British bird’s tail;

Her stings are all sharp, and they’ll pierce without fail,

Success to our navy, cries old Granny Weal.

This bird it was bred in the land of King George,

Her feathers were fine, her tail very large;

She spread forth her wings, like a ship in full sail,

And prided herself in the size of her tail.
Sing hubber, &c.

King George then says, “To America go,

The Hornet—the Wasp is the British king’s foe;

Pick them up, my dear bird, spread your wings to the gale,

But beware of those insects,” cries old Granny Weal.
Sing hubber, &c.

Away flew this bird at the word of command,

Her flight was directed to Freedom’s own land;

The Hornet discover’d her wings on the sail,

And quickly determined to tickle her tail.
Sing hubber, &c.

So at it they went, it was both pick and sting,

The Hornet still working keen under her wing;

“American insects,” quoth she, “I’ll be bail,

Will humble the king-bird, and tickle her tail.”
Sing hubber, &c.

The Peacock now mortally under her wing,

Did feel the full force of the Hornet’s sharp sting;

She flatten’d her crest like a shoal on the wail,

Sunk down by her side, and lower’d her tail.
Sing hubber, &c.

Here’s success to brave Lawrence, who well knew the nest,

Where the Hornet and Wasp with honour still rest,

We’ll send them with force, and with skill, I’ll be bail,

Will humble King George, and tickle his tail.
Sing hubber, &c.