Freddy Badger | Freddy Badger - Lexington Massacre (original New England history song) @FreddyBadger | Uploaded February 2024 | Updated October 2024, 4 hours ago.
I wrote this as the first in what I hope to grow into a series of several songs recounting the story of the Revolution in New England, 1775-1776. This one is set to the tune of the traditional Irish ballad "Lovely Willie," which I learned from the recording of Paddy Tunney.
The land by the Bay had been growing in rage
When Major Pitcairn received orders from Gage
To lead the king's soldiers to the Middlesex stores
And destroy rebel weapons prepared for the war
The militias took warning from swift Paul Revere
The regulars were coming, maybe soon to draw near
How brave they assembled when they heard his voice ring
Though no one could tell what the daylight would bring
The veteran John Parker, a Lexington man
Being plagued by consumption looked to make his last stand
He called his militia, on the green they would meet
With their guns there to stand and the British to greet
The orders were given: let no bullet fly
And to only keep watch as the soldiers passed by
But the greatest confusion they ever had seen
When the ranks of the scarlet came straight for the green
The first shot was fired, from where none could tell
Then on the militia rained hot lead and hell
They dispersed in their shock as the muzzle flash shone
And were shot in their backs as they turned to their homes
The soldiers gave three cheers as the town's people grieved
Through the thick clouds of gun smoke round the horror they'd seen
On the green grass of Lexington covered as red
As the coats of the cowards who left our men dead
I wrote this as the first in what I hope to grow into a series of several songs recounting the story of the Revolution in New England, 1775-1776. This one is set to the tune of the traditional Irish ballad "Lovely Willie," which I learned from the recording of Paddy Tunney.
The land by the Bay had been growing in rage
When Major Pitcairn received orders from Gage
To lead the king's soldiers to the Middlesex stores
And destroy rebel weapons prepared for the war
The militias took warning from swift Paul Revere
The regulars were coming, maybe soon to draw near
How brave they assembled when they heard his voice ring
Though no one could tell what the daylight would bring
The veteran John Parker, a Lexington man
Being plagued by consumption looked to make his last stand
He called his militia, on the green they would meet
With their guns there to stand and the British to greet
The orders were given: let no bullet fly
And to only keep watch as the soldiers passed by
But the greatest confusion they ever had seen
When the ranks of the scarlet came straight for the green
The first shot was fired, from where none could tell
Then on the militia rained hot lead and hell
They dispersed in their shock as the muzzle flash shone
And were shot in their backs as they turned to their homes
The soldiers gave three cheers as the town's people grieved
Through the thick clouds of gun smoke round the horror they'd seen
On the green grass of Lexington covered as red
As the coats of the cowards who left our men dead
