Born today was Richard Henry Lee.
The American colonies had the right to be free
And their ties with the king should be cut totally:
His famed resolution on independency.
“Lee: My name is Richard Henry Lee; Virginia is my home
My name is Richard Henry Lee; Virginia is my home
And may my horses turn to glue if I can’t deliver
Unto you a resolution on independency!
For I am FFV, the first family
In the sovereign colony of Virginia
Yes I am FFV, the oldest family
in the oldest colony in America
And may the British burn my land if I can’t deliver
To your hand a resolution on independency!
You see it’s here-a-Lee, there-a-Lee
And everywhere-a-Lee-a-Lee
Social-Lee, political-Lee, financial-Lee, natural-Lee
Internal-Lee, external-Lee, fraternal-Lee, eternal-Lee
The FFV, the first family
In the sovereign colony of Virginia
And may my wife refuse my bed if I can’t deliver
As I said a resolution on independency
They say that God in heaven is everybody’s God
I’ll admit that God in heaven is everybody’s God
But I tell you, John, with pride, God leans
A little on the side of the Lees, the Lees of old Virgina!
You see it’s here-a-Lee, there-a-Lee
And everywhere-a-Lee-a-Lee
Here-a-Lee, there-a-Lee
And everywhere-a-Lee
Look out! There’s Arthur Lee, Bobby Lee
And General Lighthorse Harry Lee
Willy Lee, Jesse Lee
Franklin:
And Richard H.!
Lee:
That’s me!
And may my blood stop running blue if I can’t deliver
Unto you a resolution on independency!
Yes sir, by God, it’s here-a-Lee, there-a-Lee
Come on boys join in with me!
Here-a-Lee, there-a-Lee!
Franklin:
When do you leave?
Lee:
Immediate-Lee!
Here-a-Lee, there-a-Lee!
Franklin:
When will you return?
Lee:
Short-Lee!
Here-a-Lee, there-a-Lee!
And I’ll come back triumphant-Lee!
Here-a-Lee, there-a-Lee!
Everywhere a-Lee-a-Lee
Forward ho!’
[from the movie version of “1776”, music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards]
Filed under: Constitution, government, history
Tags: 1732-1794, King George III, Second Continental Congress, Sherman Edwards
Apparently, Sherman wasn't that good.
Quite the contrary, Jack. "1776" is one of my favorite musicals. Matter of fact, my brother-in-law Tom Higgins starred in it at the Drury Lane in Oakbrook.
The excerpt doesn't say much for this portion of the lyric (certain parts seem from "Old McDonald"). Maybe the whole is greater than the parts.
Maybe that was the intent. Lee after all was a plantation owner. And indeed your last statement is spot-on. This number is not the best of Sherman's ditties, but it does serve to move the plot along.
very nice to hear about words of independency, most of people they like to talk about independency for many, but few for their personal and own. Many fellows like to say someone else "I love you", but saddly, "they even love themselves..." "they don't place down their free radicals, full of toxins, starting with their own internal pollution of their body and mind, forget their soul constructed and build with fables and self-misery". They don't have the balls to hold a rifle and whack their foes like melon heads... one by one on a list... "nobody else has the blame of their own stupidity..." "they participated.... Only if they wanted...."