Battle of New Orleans ::: Lonnie Donegan and Lyrics
The Battle of New Orleans, singer
Lonnie Donegan in
1959, is a light hearted view of the brave defence of
New Orleans in 1815 led by
Andrew Jackson against the
British Army.
The Battle of New Orleans was a prolonged battle which took place around
New Orleans, Louisiana from
December 23,
1814 to
January 26, 1815, and was the final major battle of the
War of 1812. American forces, commanded by
General Andrew Jackson, defeated an invading British Army intent on seizing New Orleans and the vast territory
America had acquired with the
Louisiana Purchase.
Battle of January 8
Within minutes, the
American 7th
Infantry arrived, moved forward, and fired upon the
British in the captured redoubt: within half an hour, Rennie and most of his men were dead
. In the main attack on the right, the British infantrymen either flung themselves to the ground, huddled in the canal, or were mowed down by a combination of musket fire and grapeshot from the
Americans. A handful made it to the top of the parapet on the right but were either killed or captured. The
95th Rifles had advanced in open skirmish order ahead of the main assault force and were concealed in the ditch below the parapet, unable to advance further without support.
The two large main assaults on the American position were repulsed. Pakenham and his second-in-command, General
Gibbs, were fatally wounded, while on horseback, by grapeshot fired from the earthworks. With most of the senior officers dead and wounded most of the
British soldiers, with no orders to advance further or retreat, stood out in the open and were shot apart with grapeshot from
Line Jackson. After about 20 more minutes of bloodletting, General
Lambert assumed command and eventually ordered a withdrawal.
Lonnies
Lyrics
(spoken: ) Well, this heres the story of the
Battle of New Orleans,
which was fit between the errr
... Yankees ocorst and the
English people,
in which the British came off rather ignominiously means they never done no good no how alright shuddup right
WELL in 1814, we took a little trip,
along with
Colonel Packenham down the mighty Mississipp.
We took a little bacon and we took a little beans,
and we fought the bloomin British in the town of New Orleans
Chorus
Well, we fired our guns and the British kept a comin',
there wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago.
We fired once more and they began a running,
on down the
Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexicoooo, yeh
Weeell, we looked down the river till we see the British come,
there must have been a hundred of 'em beatin' on the drum.
They stepped so high and they made the bugles ring,
well, we stood beside our cotton bales and never sayed a thing.
Chorus
Well, we fired our guns and the British kept a comin',
and there wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago.
We fired once more and they began a running,
on down the Mississippi to the
Gulf of Mexico.
ederum a ohderum a ederum a ohderum
Well, Packenham said we could take em by surprise,
if we didn't fire a musket till we looked `em in the eyes.
Well, we stood quite still till we see their faces well,
then we opened up our muskets and we really gave em
..
Chorus
Well, we fired our guns and the British kept a comin',
and there wasn't nigh as many as there was a - - - -
and we fired once more and they began a running,
on down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.
Weeeeell, they rrraan through the briars and they ran through the brambles,
and they ran through the bushes where the rabbits couldn't go.
They ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch em,
all down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.
Chorus
Well, we fired our guns and the British kept a comin',
there wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago.
We fired once more and they began a running,
on down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexicooooh ah ha tiddly dee
Well, we fired our muskets so the barrels melted down,
then grabbed an alligator and we fought another round.
Well, we stuffed his head with cannon balls and powdered his behind,
so when we touched the powder off, the 'gator lost his mind.
Chorus
Well, we fired our guns and the British kept a comin',
there wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago.
We fired once more and they began a running,
on down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.
down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.
down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.
down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.
on down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.