CAPTAIN JINKS
By the time Laura and Mary were snug in their
trundle bed, Pa and the fiddle were both singing,
while he kept time with his foot on the
floor... -- Little House in the Big
Woods, Chapter 7, "The Sugar Snow"
Pa's fiddle laughed and sang... -- On the Banks
of Plum Creek, Chapter 41, "Christmas Eve"
MISTRESS JINKS
Then Pa's fiddle twinkled short, gay little
notes, and he sang... Pa nodded at Laura, and she
went on singing with the fiddle... -- By the
Shores of Silver Lake, Chapter 15, "The Last
Man Out"
Words to "Captain Jinks" are by William Horace Lingard (1839-1927); Music by T. Maclagan, 1868. The song was first published by William A. Pond in 1868. Lingard was a British-born actor and singer who made his debut in the United States in New York, 1868. "Captain Jinks" was written for his own comedy company; the original performance was by a chorus of girls in military costume.
Almost immediately after its release, Will S. Hays wrote lyrics to a companion song about the captain's supposed wife: "Mistress Jinks of Madison Square," published in 1869. It was also wildly popular as a square dance tune and a popular song of soldiers in the decades after the 1870s. It is this tune that Laura sings for Pa in By the Shores of Silver Lake, Chapter 15.
William Shakespeare Hays (1837-1907) was born and died in Louisville, Kentucky. Hays wrote more than 350 songs in his lifetime, including "Evangeline" (1862) and "Little Old Cabin in the Lane" (1871).
|
CAPTAIN JINKS
1. I am Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines, I often live beyond my means, I sport young ladies in their teens, To cut a swell in the army. I teach the ladies how to dance, how to dance, how to dance, I teach the ladies how to dance, For I'm their pet in the army. (spoken: Ha! ha! ha!)
[chorus] I'm Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines, I give my horse good corn and beans, Of course it's quite beyond my means, Tho' a Captain in the army.
2. I joined my corps when twenty one, Of course I thought it capital fun, When the enemy came then off I run, I wasn't cut out for the army. When I left home, mama, she cried, Mama, she cried, mama, she cried, When I left home, mama, she cried, "He ain't cut out for the army." (spoken: No, she thought I was too young, but then, I said, ah! mama,)
[chorus] I'm Captain Jinks, etc.
3. The first day I went out to drill, The bugle sound made me quite ill, At the Balance step my hat it fell, And that wouldn't do for the army. The officers they all did shout, They all cried out, they all did shout, The officers they all did shout, "Oh that's the curse of the army." (spoken: Of course my had did fall off, but, ah! nevertheless,)
[chorus] I'm Captain Jinks, etc.
4. My Tailor's bills came in so fast, Forced me one day to leave at last, And ladies too, no more did cast Sheep eyes at me in the army. My creditors at me did shout, At me did shout, at me did shout, My creditors at me did shout "Why kick him out of the army." (spoken: I said, ah! gentlemen, ah! kick me out of the Army? Perhaps you are not aware, that,)
[chorus] I'm Captain Jinks, etc.
MISTRESS JINKS OF MADISON SQUARE
1. I am Mistress Jinks of Madison Square, I wear fine clothes and I puff my hair, And how the gentlemen at me stare, While my husband's in the army. Where'er I go, I'm talked about, I'm talked about, I'm talked about, I wear the latest fashions out, While the Captain's in the army. (spoken: And why shouldn't I? Everybody that sees me knows...)
[chorus] I am Mistress Jinks of Madison Square, I wear fine clothes and I puff my hair, And how the gentlemen at me stare, While the Captain's in the army. |
2. I give my parties and my balls, And 'tend to all my evening calls, And buy the best I can find at Hall's, While my husband's in the army. I write to him and he writes to me, He writes to me, he writes to me, And says that I must happy be, While the Captain's in the army. (spoken: And why shouldn't I? He fights for his pay, I get it, and spend it, He's happy so am I, for...)
[chorus] I am Mistress Jinks of Madison Square, etc.
3. He says he'll get a furlough soon, And come back home to stay till June,, O! won't I sing a different tune, To my husband in the army. I'll meet him then with kisses sweet, With kisses sweet, with kisses sweet, I'll hasten out of the door to meet, With the Captain home from the army. (spoken: And why shouldn't I? Hav'nt I spent all his money? Owe large bills, house rent due, nothing to wear, hungry, and, -- well...)
[chorus] I am Mistress Jinks of Madison Square, etc.
CAPTAIN JINKS (from Little House in the Big Woods)
I'm Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines, I feed my horse on corn and beans, And I often go beyond my means, For I'm Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines, I'm Captain in the Army!
CAPTAIN JINKS (from On the Banks of Plum Creek)
I'm Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines, I feed my horse on corn and beans Although 'tis far beyond my means, for I'm Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines, I'm Captain of the army!
CAPTAIN JINKS (from By the Shores of Silver Lake)
I'm Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines! I feed my horse on corn and beans. And I often go beyond my means To court the girls all in their teens, For I'm Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines, I'm Captain in the Army!
MISTRESS JINKS OF MADISON SQUARE (from By the Shores of Silver Lake)
I am Mistress Jinks of Madison Square, I wear fine clothes and I curl my hair, The Captain went on a regular tear And they kicked him out of the Army!
Use the navigation bar above to listen to "Mistress Jinks of Madison Square" - midi sequence by Benjamin Robert Tubb. To hear more songs by Hays, see the pdmusic webpage on him at http://www.pdmusic.org/hays.html. If you do not see the midi player above, click HERE to listen. |
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
