American Patriotic Song (Vocal) The Hunters of Kentucky
"The Hunters of Kentucky", also called "The Battle of New Orleans" and "Half Horse and Half Alligator", was a song written to commemorate Andrew Jackson's victory over the British at the Battle of New Orleans (1812). In both 1824 and 1828 Jackson used the song as his campaign song during his presidential campaigns. Ye gentlemen and ladies fair Who grace this famous city, Just listen, if you've time to spare, While I rehearse a ditty; And for the opportunity Conceive yourselves quite lucky, For 'tis not often that you see A hunter from Kentucky. Refrain: Oh Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky! Oh Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky! We are a hardy, free-born race, Each man to fear a stranger; Whate'er the game, we join in chase, Despising toil and danger. And if a daring foe annoys, Whate'er his strength and forces, We'll show him that Kentucky boys Are alligator horses. Refrain: I s'pose you've read it in the prints, How Packenham attempted To make old Hickory Jackson wince, But soon his scheme repented; For we, with rifles ready cock'd, Thought such occasion lucky, And soon around the gen'ral flock'd, The hunters of Kentucky. Refrain: You've heard, I s'pose, how New-Orleans Is fam'd for wealth and beauty— There's girls of ev'ry hue, it seems, From snowy white to sooty. So Packenham he made his brags, If he in fight was lucky, He'd have their girls and cotton bags, In spite of old Kentucky.
"The Hunters of Kentucky", also called "The Battle of New Orleans" and "Half Horse and Half Alligator", was a song written to commemorate Andrew Jackson's victory over the British at the Battle of New Orleans (1812). In both 1824 and 1828 Jackson used the song as his campaign song during his presidential campaigns. Ye gentlemen and ladies fair Who grace this famous city, Just listen, if you've time to spare, While I rehearse a ditty; And for the opportunity Conceive yourselves quite lucky, For 'tis not often that you see A hunter from Kentucky. Refrain: Oh Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky! Oh Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky! We are a hardy, free-born race, Each man to fear a stranger; Whate'er the game, we join in chase, Despising toil and danger. And if a daring foe annoys, Whate'er his strength and forces, We'll show him that Kentucky boys Are alligator horses. Refrain: I s'pose you've read it in the prints, How Packenham attempted To make old Hickory Jackson wince, But soon his scheme repented; For we, with rifles ready cock'd, Thought such occasion lucky, And soon around the gen'ral flock'd, The hunters of Kentucky. Refrain: You've heard, I s'pose, how New-Orleans Is fam'd for wealth and beauty— There's girls of ev'ry hue, it seems, From snowy white to sooty. So Packenham he made his brags, If he in fight was lucky, He'd have their girls and cotton bags, In spite of old Kentucky.