|
THE STEAM ARM: A CURIOUS STORY (A Ballad)
A curious story I am told,
About a soldier, fierce and bold,
Toori, Loorie, lay.*
In old Virginia he lost his arm,
Which caused him pain and much alarm,
Toori, Loorie, lay.
He went home one Saturday night,
His wife abused him left and right,
Toori, Loorie, lay.
He had no arm,
He could not fight,
Toori, Loorie, lay.
- Tennesee Valley Version (the word WATERLOO is replaced by OLD VIRGINIA).
"The steam arm then began to play,
knocking the Lord Mayor from his chair,
with a too-rah loo-rah lattity,*
right too-loo-rah lay.*"
- A Stanza from near the end of the Australian branch of the Ballad (1848)
*This part of the Ballad is meant to be whistled - like the sound of the steam engine in the arm.