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| COME, all you brave Americans, and unto me give ear, | |
| And I’ll sing you a ditty that will make your hearts cheer, | |
| Concerning a young gentleman whose age was twenty-two; | |
| He fought for North America; his heart was just and true. | |
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| They took him from his dwelling-place, and they did him confine, | 5 |
| They cast him into prison, and kept him for a time; | |
| But he with resolution resolved not long to stay; | |
| He set himself at liberty, and soon he ran away. | |
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| He with a scouting-party ran down to Tarrytown, | |
| Where he met a British officer, a man of high renown; | 10 |
| He says to those young gentlemen, “You’re of the British cheer, | |
| I trust that you can tell me now if there’s any danger here.” | |
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| Then up stepp’d this young gentleman, John Paulding was his name; | |
| “Come, tell me where you’re going to, also from whence you came.” | |
| “I bear the British flag, sir; I’ve a pass to go this way; | 15 |
| I’m on an expedition, and have no time to stay.” | |
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| Then up stepp’d those young gentlemen, and bid him to dismount; | |
| “Come tell us where you’re going to, give us a strict account; | |
| For we are now resolved that you shall ne’er pass by.” | |
| On strict examination, they found out he was a spy. | 20 |
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| He begged for his liberty, he plead for his discharge, | |
| And oftentimes he told them, if they’d set him at large, | |
| “Here’s all the gold and silver I have laid up in store, | |
| But when I get down to New York I’ll give you ten times more.” | |
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| “I scorn your gold and silver, I’ve enough laid up in store, | 25 |
| And when that is all spent and gone, I’ll freely fight for more; | |
| So you may take your sword in hand and gain your liberty, | |
| And if that you do conquer me, O, then you shall go free.” | |
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| “The time it is improper our valour for to try, | |
| For if we take our swords in hand, then one of us must die; | 30 |
| I am a man of honour, with courage brave and bold, | |
| I fear not the face of clay, although it’s clothed in gold.” | |
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| He saw that his conspiracy would soon be brought to light; | |
| He begg’d for pen and paper, and asked leave to write | |
| A line to General Arnold, to let him know his fate, | 35 |
| And beg for his assistance; but alas, it was too late. | |
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| When the news it came to Arnold, it put him in a fret; | |
| He walk’d the room in trouble, till tears his cheeks did wet; | |
| The news it went throughout the camp, likewise throughout the fort; | |
| He called for the Vulture, and sailed for New York. | 40 |
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| Now Arnold to New York has gone, a fighting for his king, | |
| And left poor Major André, on the gallows for to swing; | |
| When he was executed, he look’d both meek and mild, | |
| He look’d on his spectators, and pleasantly did smile. | |
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| It moved each eye with pity, caused every heart to bleed; | 45 |
| And every one wish’d him released, and had Arnold in his stead. | |
| He was a man of honour, in Britain he was born; | |
| To die upon the gallows most highly he did scorn. | |
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| Here’s a health unto John Paulding! so let your voices sound, | |
| Fill up your flowing glasses, and drink his health around; | 50 |
| Also to those young gentlemen, who bore him company; | |
| Success to North America, ye sons of liberty! | |
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