Part 1 — THE PLATTSBURG CODE
Reading edition
1
By Lake Champlain, where Bourbon tossed The dice of fortune and romance, Where red-coats won and red-coats lost, We soldiers train to fight in France. Though with no pomp and elegance Of gold-laced beaux, we have their same Old code of pluck and nonchalance— "God give us guts to play the game."
2
May winds that sing like troubadours Of musket, sword and daring deed, And ideals won in early wars, Inspire each warrior to succeed; To fight that nations may be freed, And through all hardships make his aim The punch of old-time heroes' creed— God give us guts to play the game.
3
And if to-morrow—who can tell?— We hike along a hot white French Highway, exposed to shrapnel shell, Or occupy a first-line trench, 'Midst poisoned gas and dead men's stench, And hand grenades that burst and maim; May not all hell our spirit quench— God give us guts to play the game.
4
If through entangled wires and mud, Charging the Boche, we madly run, With comrades dropping, dyed with blood, And sickening sights and sounds that stun, And in death's duel meet the Hun 'Midst shell holes, smoke, and battle flame, Steel clashing steel and gun to gun— God give us guts to play the game.
