by (Francis) Bret(t) Harte (1839 - 1902)
Didn't know Flynn
Language: English
Didn't know Flynn, -- Flynn of Virginia, -- Long as he's been 'yar? Look 'ee here, stranger, Whar HEV you been? Here in this tunnel He was my pardner, That same Tom Flynn, -- Working together, In wind and weather, Day out and in. Didn't know Flynn! Well, that IS queer; Why, it's a sin To think of Tom Flynn, -- Tom with his cheer, Tom without fear, -- Stranger, look 'yar! Thar in the drift, Back to the wall, He held the timbers Ready to fall; Then in the darkness I heard him call: "Run for your life, Jake! Run for your wife's sake! Don't wait for me." And that was all Heard in the din, Heard of Tom Flynn, -- Flynn of Virginia. That's all about Flynn of Virginia. That lets me out. Here in the damp, -- Out of the sun, -- That 'ar derned lamp Makes my eyes run. Well, there, -- I'm done! But, sir, when you'll Hear the next fool Asking of Flynn, -- Flynn of Virginia, -- Just you chip in, Say you knew Flynn; Say that you've been 'yar.
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Text Authorship:
- by (Francis) Bret(t) Harte (1839 - 1902), "In the tunnel" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Francis Boott (1813 - 1904), "Flynn of Virginia", published 1870 [voice and piano], from Six Songs, no. 5, Boston : O. Ditson [text not verified]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2011-10-12
Line count: 46
Word count: 176