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THE RIFLEMAN'S SONG AT BENNINGTON, by                    
First Line: "why come ye hither, stranger [or, redcoat]?"
Last Line: "if flint and trigger hold but true, / the quicker 'twill be done"
Subject(s): "american Revolution;bennington, Battle Of (1777);


WHY come ye hither, stranger?
Your mind what madness fills?
In our valleys there is danger,
And danger on our hills!
Hear ye not the singing
Of the bugle, wild and free?
Full soon ye'll know the ringing
Of the rifle from the tree!
The rifle, the sharp rifle!
In our hands it is no trifle!

Ye ride a goodly steed;
He may know another master:
Ye forward come with speed,
But ye'll learn to back much faster,
When ye meet our mountain boys
And their leader, Johnny Stark!
Lads who make but little noise,
But who always hit the mark
With the rifle, the true rifle!
In their hands will prove no trifle!

Had ye no graves at home
Across the briny water,
That hither ye must come,
Like bullocks to the slaughter?
If we the work must do,
Why, the sooner 't is begun,
If flint and trigger hold but true,
The quicker 't will be done
By the rifle, the good rifle!
In our hands it is no trifle!





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