Alex Bevan - The Guns Of Erie lyrics

Oh, they heard them in Detroit, locked in iron repartee In Cleveland town, they heard the sound of thunder there, quite clearly The guns on old Lake Erie on that bright September day When Perry met the British off the shores of Put-in-Bay Oh, my name it does not matter, but my story will be told When Harrison cried for volunteers, I answered to the call To Erie, Pennsylvania, from my north Ohio farm To serve upon the Lawrence as a gunner's mate ‘at arms Was there I first saw Perry, full of swagger, bra**, and blow Greetin' all us newborn sailor lads, then it's over the bar we go Sailin' to the westward, say farewell to old Presque Sporting sails from every halyard to Sandusky Bay with style Oh, they heard them in Detroit, locked in iron repartee In Cleveland town, they heard the sound of thunder there, quite clearly The guns on old Lake Erie on that bright September day When Perry met the British off the shores of Put-in-Bay This weren't no Sunday sail, this weren't no pleasure cruise From dawn to dusk, we practiced with the guns that we would use The loader's name was Rory, the mate was Ivory Buck Me, I was the rammer and Bobby took the shots We wed that piece of iron, a 32-pound carronade A black and hulking metal dog, she'd spit and bark all day And so we sailed the Lawrence out to teach the British manners A little wooden eggshell brig, loaded up with deadly hammers Oh, they heard them in Detroit, locked in iron repartee In Cleveland town, they heard the sound of thunder there, quite clearly The guns on old Lake Erie on that bright September day When Perry met the British off the shores of Put-in-Bay Well we finally made the bay, the one on South Ba** Island I remember that day quite well for it for it was September 9 And the lookout spied a sail, we raise the anchor shortly And headed for Snake Island gettin' ready for the sortie Oh, the wind was from the sou-east and we couldn't make no way I won't repeat how the Commodore swore and spat upon that day Oh, that lucky Perry, he was blessed right and gifted He called the change in course just as the wind, she finally shifted Oh, they heard them in Detroit, locked in iron repartee In Cleveland town, they heard the sound of thunder there, quite clearly The guns on old Lake Erie on that bright September day When Perry met the British off the shores of Put-in-Bay And then we saw the British fleet all there in a line Two ships, two brigs, a schooner, a sloop, each one quite taut and fine And so we tacked up wind, into the battle script To the flutter of the flag that said, “Boys, don't give up the ship.” The British simply waited there, the Chippewa, and Detroit The Lady and Queen Charlotte, Hunter, Little Belt all in sight First, there came a ranging shot, a flash then report A splash and a laugh from all the crew, the King's first shot fell short Then one by one, the long-range guns opened up with their applause As the whistle of d**h from black metal birds wiped smiles from every jaw Oh, Perry, he's a bold one, into that hell he sailed And somewhere right behind us, Niagara's captain fell Oh, they heard them in Detroit, locked in iron repartee In Cleveland town, they heard the sound of thunder there, quite clearly The guns on old Lake Erie on that bright September day When Perry met the British off the shores of Put-in-Bay The Lawrence guns did spit and puff for every broadside earned As Niagara luff, we all held tough and three shots we returned Then a splinter caught poor Rory's arm and a ball took off his face Then Ivory Buck was cut in half and blood was every place Bobby and me loaded up and fired her once again Then the loblolly boys took Bob below and he caught some chaff in the chin I looked up to the forecastle, I saw the first mate fall As 20 pounds of British iron punched him through the wall And through the smoke before me and a jacket just like mine Perry himself comes up to me and hands me a line Saying, “Come with me, the Lawrence is lost, find a boat and go, Over to Niagara, we'll engage our bloody foe.” Oh, they heard them in Detroit, locked in iron repartee In Cleveland town, they heard the sound of thunder there, quite clearly The guns on old Lake Erie on that bright September day When Perry met the British off the shores of Put-in-Bay So me, and three from God knows where, put a boat over the side With Perry hoisting the battle flag, we rowed to survive There were geysers of water from cannon balls, there was foam and flame and smoke I don't know how the British did it, but they missed our little boat And when we made Niagara, into the line we go, with Perry like a madman Barking orders to us all The British tried attack, four guns on starboard side, But Detroit snarls in the rigging as with Charlotte collides Bow to mizzen entangle, a wretched smoking mess As up sails our Niagara, guns blazing east and west The music of the guns that day was set towards inspire The rhythm of the carronade was sponge, load, aim, and fire Upon the decks of England, blood gushed into the lake And many a man who just like me, the journey home won't make Then the Detroit gave just one last shout, sent a white flag up the mast As did Hunter and the Lady, the guns fell quiet at last And oh what dreadful silence filled our ears with mortal dread Smoke clear away and the waning day, we counted up the dead Oh, they heard them in Detroit, locked in iron repartee In Cleveland town, they heard the sound of thunder there, quite clearly The guns on old Lake Erie on that bright September day When Perry met the British off the shores of Put-in-Bay “We have met the enemy and they are ours”, Perry wrote upon that day Two ships, two brigs, a schooner, a sloop the history books will say There are those who fight for country, there are those who fight for King Some believe that might makes right and some don't believe a thing Me, I believe I'm lucky to survive that awful day, As the echo of cannons fade and gun smoke drifts away For the winds of war might blow again, but pray not too near me I'll go back to my farm, do no man harm, and leave Perry's fame to history Oh, they heard them in Detroit, locked in iron repartee In Cleveland town, they heard the sound of thunder there, quite clearly The guns on old Lake Erie on that bright September day When Perry met the British off the shores of Put-in-Bay