Battleship of Maine

McKinley called for volunteers,
I went and got my gun,
First Spaniard I saw coming,
I dropped my gun and run,
It was all about that Battleship of Maine.

cho: At war with that great nation Spain
When I get back to Spain l want to honor my name,
It was all about that Battleship of Maine.

Why are you running,
Are you afraid to die?
The reason that I'm running
Is because I cannot fly
It was all about that Battleship of Maine.

The blood was a-running
And l was running too,
I give my feet good exercise
I had nothing else to do,
It was all about that Battleship of Maine.

When they were a'chasing me,
I fell down on my knees,
First thing I cast my eyes upon
Was a great big pot of pea,
It was all about that Battleship of Maine.

The peas they were greasy,
The meat it was fat.
The boys was fighting Spaniards
While I was fighting that,
It was all about that Battleship of Maine.

Recorded by the New Lost City Ramblers
RG