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You see, my jolly
comrades, we are ripe and prime for battle;
We heeded not the
cannon's roar nor grape shot's stinging rattle.
We were sworn to
death or victory for our Union, God defend her;
And to only take from
rebels unconditional surrender.
CHORUS:
Unconditional,
unconditional, unconditional surrender!
Unconditional,
unconditional, unconditional surrender!
Amidst the din of
warfare and the shrieks of hosts a-dying,
We heard a shout of
triumph, saw the flag of truce a-flying;
And we knew the rebel
leader a petition came to tender,
But our gallant
General Granted unconditional surrender.
(CHORUS)
"'Tis unchivalric
treatment to a man in my condition,
But I yield me," said
their leader, so our armies gained admission.
Then our flag went up
instanter, as she must, when braves defend her,
And while leaders
have this war cry: "Unconditional surrender!"
(CHORUS)
Hurrah! then for our
Union, and our flag and Constitution;
While we've hands and
hearts for battle we will have no dissolution.
Hurrah! then for our
Union, peace and liberty attend her;
And henceforth
be our war cry: "Unconditional surrender!"
(CHORUS)
There is irony in dedicating any song to Grant. He had a tin ear and no
taste for music, once stating that he was able to recognize only two
songs: “One is Yankee Doodle, and the other
isn’t.”
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