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Thanks for this wonderful thread, JPK. I became intrigued by this one and had to look up the sheet music. It's here at the New York Public Library:
http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47df-f232-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99/book#page/1/mode/2up
Here are the lyrics:
The pride of soldier boys,
The sharer of their joys,
When on a summer’s day
To camp they march away;
Their mascot’s ever near,
The jolly vivandiere;
Young and fair, debonair,
With a heart that’s free from care.
And when she taps her keg of ruby wine,
To “have a smile” the boys cannot decline,
They clink their glasses with a cheer:
“Long life to her, our vivandiere!”
Both high and low, all love her so,
By old and young her praise is sung.
REFRAIN:
For she’s a wonder!
The boys all ponder
To whom she’ll give her heart and hand,
This dearest girl in all the land!
She is the neatest, completest, sweetest,
A girl without a peer, the jolly vivandiere!
But when, in war and strife,
The soldier risks his life
For home and country dear,
You find the vivandiere.
And in the time of need,
She is a friend indeed.
Not afraid is this maid,
And to dangers pays no heed.
The cannons roar!
The drums beat!
Bugles call!
And right and left the bravest soldiers fall;
But with a smile is ever near,
And with a cheer, the vivandiere!
Both friend and foe, all love her so,
By old and young her praise is sung.
REFRAIN