“How Stands The Glass Around?" (a soldier's drinking song)

[rakehell.livejournal.com]

This rather melancholy song was reportedly sung by Alexander Hamilton in the days before his fatal duel. Hamilton biographer Richard Brookhiser sang it in on Leonard Lopate’s great NPR radio show, New York and Company. I transcribed it with punctuation to reflect the way Brookhiser sang it (he has a decent voice). BTW: “landlady” is a euphemism for a prostitute.
( Read more... )

Tom Waits "Soldier's Things"

[rakehell.livejournal.com]

( Read more... )

Old Ironsides

[rakehell.livejournal.com]

One of my favorite childhood chestnuts for recitation:

By Oliver Wendell Holmes
September 16, 1830

( Read more... )