Stars of Mexico
THE STARS OF MEXICO
by Harri Webb
They call me Jack the Fifer
and I come from Nantyglo,
And I played my fife for freedom
not so many years ago,
When we took the People’s Charter
to the gates of Newport town,
When we marched to win a Kingdom,
and the soldiers shot us down.
And sometimes I remember
the grey skies of Nantyglo
As I spread my trooper’s blanket
‘neath the stars of Mexico.
In green and gracious valleys among the hills of Gwent
We never saw the sunshine,
to earth our backs were bent,
Like a toiling slave an early grave
was all we had to gain,
So we struck like men and struck again, but our struggle was in vain.
And sometimes I remember
how we dealt that final blow
As I march to other battles
‘neath the stars of Mexico.
The month it was November
and all the storm winds blew,
And as we marched to Newport, full many of us knew
That our comrades would be lying at the rising of the sun
Who’d never feel its warmth again,
nor hear our rivers run.
But we shouldered pike and musket
as onward we did go
And we marched as bold as any
in the wars of Mexico.
They’d have hanged me as a traitor,
so I crossed the stormy sea
And I play my fife in a better life
in the Land of Liberty.
For the cruel laws of England
I do not give a damn
And I’m shouldering my rifle
‘neath the flag of Uncle Sam,
And I’m marching as a soldier
in the War of Mexico
To a place I’ve never heard of,
and it’s called the Alamo.
They call me Jack the Fifer
and I come from Nantyglo.
I always was a fighter
and I’ll always strike a· blow.
With the Stars and Stripes above me, I’ll make a soldier’s stand
And not disgrace my ancient race,
nor dear Wales, my native land,
And I’ll take her honour with me, though fate may lay me low
Far distant from my homeland,
‘neath the stars of Mexico.