Overtures From Richmond: A New Lilliburlero

“ WELL, Uncle Sam,” says Jefferson D.,
Lilliburlero, old Uncle Sam,
“You ’ll have to join my Confed’racy,”
Lilliburlero, old Uncle Sam.
“ Lero, lero, that don’t appear O, that don’t appear, ” says old Uncle Sam,
“ Lero, lero, filibustero, that don’t appear,” says old Uncle Sam.

“ So, Uncle Sam, just lay down your arms,”
Lilliburlero, etc.,
“ Then you shall hear my reas’nable terms,”
Lilliburlero, etc.
“ Lero, lero, I’d like to hear O, I’d like to hear,” says old Uncle Sam,
“ Lero, lero, filibustero, I ’d like to hear,” says old Uncle Sam.

“First, you must own I’ve beat you in fight,”
Lilliburlero, etc.,
“ Then, that I always have been in the right,”
Lilliburlero, etc.
“ Lero, lero, rather severe O, rather severe,” says old Uncle Sam,
“ Lero, lero, filibustero, rather severe,” says old Uncle Sam.

“ Then, you must pay my national debts,”
Lilliburlero, etc.,
“ No questions asked about my assets,”
Lilliburlero, etc.
“ Lero, lero, that’s very dear O, that ’s very dear,” says old Uncle Sam,
“ Lero, lero, filibustero, that’s very dear,” says old Uncle Sam.

“ Also, some few I. O. U.S and bets,”
Lilliburlero, etc.,
’ Mine, and Bob Toombs’, and Slidell’s, and Rhett’s,”
Lilliburlero, etc.
“ Lero, lero, that leaves me zero, that leaves me zero,” says Uncle Sam,
“Lero, lero, filibustero, that leaves me zero,” says Uncle Sam.

“ And, by the way, one little thing more,”
Lilliburlero, etc.,
“ You ’re to refund the costs of the war,”
Lilliburlero, etc.
“ Lero, lero, just what I fear O, just what I fear,” says old Uncle Sam,
“ Lero, lero, filibustero, just what I fear,” says old Uncle Sam.

“ Next, you must own our Cavalier blood ! ”
Lilliburlero, etc.,
“ And that your Puritans sprang from the mud ! ”
Lilliburlero, etc.
“ Lero, lero, that mud is clear O, that mud is clear,” says old Uncle Sam,
“ Lero, lero, filibustero, that mud is clear,” says old Uncle Sam.

“ Slavery’s, of course, the chief corner-stone,”
Lilliburlero, etc.,
“ Of our NEW CIV-IL-I-ZA-TI-ON ! ”
Lilliburlero, etc.
“ Loro, lero, that’s quite sincere O, that’s quite sincere,” says old Uncle Sam,
Lero, lero, filibustero, that’s quite sincere,” says old Uncle Sam.

“ You ’ll understand, my recreant tool,”
Lilliburlero, etc.,
“ You ’re to submit, and we are to rule,”
Lilliburlero, etc.
“ Lero, lero, are n’t you a hero ! are n’t you a hero ! ” says Uncle Sam,
“ Lero, lero, filibustero, are n’t you a hero ! ” says Uncle Sam.

“ If to these terms you fully consent,”
Lilliburlero, etc.,
“I ’ll be Perpetual King-President,”
Lilliburlero, etc.
“ Lero, lero, take your sombrero, off to your swamps ! ” says old Uncle Sam,
“Lero, lero, filibustero, cut, double-quick ! ” says old Uncle Sam.