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The Recess was published in London in 1779, intended to be sung to the tune of Yankee Doodle.
And now our Senators are gone To take their leave of London,
To mourn how little they have done, How much they have left undone!
Heaven bless 'em in their summer seats, And grant their neighbors stare at
The long recounting of their feats, Though wond'ring much what they're at!
Bless'd be the times when men may do, What no one comprehendeth;
May boast of deeds that all must rue, Nor judge where nonsense endeth!
One year, with half ten thousand men, We swallow all our foes up;
The next, the times are turn'd, and then Old England's scale light goes up.
But still with courage and with glee, New laws we must be framing;
With paper and with parchment, we The savages art taming.
We swear the transatlantic folks Shall all obey our orders;
While they turn all we do to jokes, And cry out, "guard your borders."
Well, then, we'll go to war with France Yes - no - we must - we mustn't;
John Bull shall teach Monsieur to dance But can't - and there's the curse on't.
What's to be done? - we'll end the jar - But how ? - Ah! there's the devil -
'Tis easier to provoke a war By far, than cure the evil.
We trust you'll nearer hit the point When you shall meet next winter;
And if you cannot set the joint, Be sure reduce the splinter.
Note: The midi file linked to this page was sequenced by The Kitchen Musician, whose website is located at: http://members.aol.com/kitchiegal/index.html
