www.mydfz.com > Music of Tom Paxton > Lyrics to General Custer


General Custer

Words and Music by Tom Paxton

General Custer told me, we were going for a ride
Over by the Big Horn River, where the water is deep and wide.
Soon as I get my hair done, we will win the war;
Go on out and tell the boys what they are fighting for.

Chorus:
And he said, "Give somebody a medal.
Give somebody a three day pass.
Tell 'em 'bout a light at the end of the tunnel,
And tell him to hold us fast.
And pass me my lookin' glass."

Out in the buffalo moonlight, I thought I heard a bird.
One old Indian fighter went pale, said, "What was that I heard?"
Sixteen thousand nightengales stomping through the pass.
Tell that idiot matinee fool to get us out and fast.

He yelled, "Give somebody a medal.
Give somebody a three day pass.
Tell 'em 'bout a light at the end of the tunnel,
And tell him to hold us fast.
And pass me my lookin' glass."

Dawn came up like a taxi and what do suppose I see,
Every Indian in history, tapping his toes at me.
Things was looking shakey, some of them boys was large;
What do s'pose old Custer done, you know he hollered, "Charge!"
But nobody told the Indians who old Custer was,
They commenced to stick to us like peaches stick to fuzz.
Nobody told the Indians they was supposed to run;
And just as they did Custer in, what do s'pose he done

He hollered, "Give somebody a medal.
Give somebody a three day pass.
Tell 'em 'bout a light at the end of the tunnel,
And tell him to hold us fast.
And pass me my lookin' glass."


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