The Mulligan Guard
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Lesley Nelson-Burns
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Lyrics
The lyrics and music to The Mulligan Guard were written in 1873 by Ned Harrigan (1845-1911) and David Braham (1838-1905). Harrigan was part of a musical and vaudeville team with Tony Hart (1855-1891). Their revues were the beginnings of the modern American Musical.**

The song was a satire on the pseudo-military organizations that sprang up after the Civil War. They dressed in ornate uniforms and participated in parades. The Mulligan cadre paraded throughout the Lower East Side of Manhattan.*

The tune was tremendously popular and spread even to India. According to Kipling it was a favorite marching song of British troops stationed there.**

We crave your condescension,
We'll tell you what we know
Of marching in the Mulligan Guard
From Sligo Ward below.
Our Captain's name was Hussey,
A Tipperary man,
He carried his sword like a Russian duke
Whene'er he took command
[spoken] Forward March!
We shoulder'd guns, and march'd and march'd away,
From Baxter Street, we march'd to Avenue A,
With drums and fife how sweetly they did play,
We march'd march'd march'd in the Mulligan Guard.

When the band play'd Garry Owen,
Or the Connamara Pet;
With a rub a dub, dub, we'd march in the mud,
To the military step.
With the green above the red, boys,
To show where we come from,
Our guns we'd lift with the right shoulder shift,
As we'd march to the bate of the drum.
[spoken] Forward March!
We shoulder'd guns, and march'd and march'd away,
From Baxter Street, we march'd to Avenue A,
With drums and fife how sweetly they did play,
We march'd march'd march'd in the Mulligan Guard.

When we got home at night, boys,
The divil a bite we'd ate,
We'd all set up and drink a sup
Of whiskey strong and nate.
Thin we'd all march home together,
As slippery as lard,
The solid min would all fall in,
And march with the Mulligan Guard.
[spoken] Forward March!
We shoulder'd guns, and march'd and march'd away,
From Baxter Street, we march'd to Avenue A,
With drums and fife how sweetly they did play,
We march'd march'd march'd in the Mulligan Guard.
Related Links
From **Best Loved Songs of the American People and
*Popular Irish Songs
See Bibliography for full information.