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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.

About the headline (FAQ)

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

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