A Civil War song from 1865
Words by Henry Tucker
Music by George Cooper
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by Werner Tomaschewski:
Accompaniment by Benjamin R. Tubb:
Lyrics
- Jeff Davis was a hero bold
You’ve heard of him, I know
He tried to make himself a King
Where southern breezes blow
But “Uncle Sam,” he laid the youth
Across his mighty knee
And spanked him well, and that’s the end
Of brave old Jeffy D
Chorus
Oh! Jeffy D.! you “flow’r of chivalree”
Oh royal Jeffy D
Your Empire’s but a tin-clad skirt
Oh, charming Jeffy D
- This Davis, he was always full
Of bluster and of brag,
He swore, on all our Northern walls
He’d plant his Rebel rag;
But when to battle he did go
He said, “I’m not so green,
To dodge the bullets
I will wear my tinclad crinoline.” - Now when he saw the game was up
He started for the woods,
His band-box hung upon his arm
Quite full of fancy goods;
Said Jeff, “They’ll never take me now
I’m sure I’ll not be seen.”
“They’d never think to look for me
Beneath my crinoline.” - Jeff took with him, the people say
A mine of golden coin,
Which he from banks and other places
Managed to purloin
But while he ran, like every thief
He had to drop the spoons
And maybe that’s the reason why
He dropped his pantaloons - Our Union boys were on his track
For many nights and days
His palpitating heart it beat
Enough to burst his stays
O! what a dash he must have cut
With form so tall and lean
Just fancy now the “What is it”
Dressed up in Crinoline - The Ditch that Jeff was hunting for
He found was very near;
He tried to “shift” his base again
His neck felt rather queer;
Just on the out-“skirts” of a wood
His dainty shape was seen
His boots stuck out, and now they’ll hang
Old Jeff in crinoline
Sung here by Vancha March: