237. Marching to Cuba

 


237
Marching to Cuba

Regarding this song Mr. William Lichtenwanger, Assistant Ref-
erence Librarian, Music Division, Library of Congress, who was
asked to identify it, wrote: "I believe that your version must be
derived from Marching to Cuba, words by Josie M. Galloway,
music by J. H. Dohrmann, published by the Zeno Mauvais Music
Company of San Francisco in 1898. . . . Here there is consider-
able variation, but of the kind to be expected when a song has been
passed along orally by a number of different singers. The second
line of the chorus, incidentally, is 'Hurrah ! Hurrah ! for flag of
liberty!' Perhaps the second line of your version should read:
'. . . boys, Cuba shall be free.' " (By "version" he evidently means
"chorus.")

'Away to Cuba.' From W. Amos Abrams, of Boone, without indication
of date.

I We're going down to Cuba, boys, to battle for the right.
We're going to show those Spaniards that we Yankee boys
can fight.

 

NATIVE AMERICAN BALLADS 549

And when they see us coming they'll scatter left and right,
When we march into Cuba.

Chorus:

Hurrah! Hurrah! We'll sound the jubilee.

Hurrah ! Hurrah ! Boys, Bub shall be free,

And we'll sing the chorus from Mt. Gretna to the sea.

While we are marching to Cuba.

'Twas in Manila, boys, our ships the foe did meet.

We didn't need a hurricane to wreck, to wreck the Spanish

fleet,
But just one Dewey morning, and our victory was complete.
As we were marching to Cuba.

In Santiago harbor Sampson had them bottled tight.
Hobson put the cork in, and we think he did it right,
And when they find they can't get out, they'll have to

stand and tight.
When we march into Cuba.

With Dewey, Schley, and Sampson, we need not have a

fear.
For they will guard the harbors while we attack the rear.
We'll plant our flag on Morro and give one mighty cheer,
When we march into Cuba.