That way to Timothy Murphy

This way to Deborah Sampson

"Henry Knox"     LISTEN! (3MB) Source: Ray Dashner Archives 2007 All Rights Reserved

That way to Timothy Murphy

This way to Deborah Sampson

Three hundred pounds of basso profundo Was Henry Knox. A heavy, hearty, light-hearted party Was Henry Knox. Enthusiasm always in high, The kind of man who'd never say "die," Robust, rotund, congenial giant was Henry Knox. Henry Knox, at the age of twelve, Was forced to go to work. To support his mother he got a job in a Bookstore as a clerk. And while he worked He also read, a lot of books and filled his head 'til he was an authority On guns and artillery. At twenty-one he opened up a bookstore of his own. At twenty-five enlisted to oppose the British throne. Big promotions came rapidly. In five months he had a colonelcy And he was put in charge of artillery small and large. Three hundred pounds of basso profundo Was Henry Knox. A heavy, hearty, light-hearted party Was Henry Knox. Enthusiasm always in high, The kind of man who'd never say "die,' Robust, rotund, congenial giant was Henry Knox. At the start of the War the British force held Boston town And the home team didn't have half enough heavy guns to wear them down. So Henry Knox and his men were sent, Ticonderoga is where they went To see if the Fort could spare the captured cannon there. Three hundred miles of snow and thaw across the wild terrain, But Henry Knox successfully delivered that "noble train." Then up to Dorchester Heights they hauled the cannon And when they were all installed It started to explode. The British hit the road. Three hundred pounds of basso profundo Was Henry Knox. A heavy, hearty, light-hearted party Was Henry Knox. Enthusiasm always in high, The kind of man who'd never say "die," Robust, rotund, congenial giant was Henry Knox. Henry Knox was with Washington when the Delaware was crossed. Said the General to the Colonel, "Shift your weight or all is lost." When Henry Knox thought there should be a special kind of Academy to teach the gunner's art, West Point got its start. At Washington's farewell when he relinquished his command, Henry Knox was the first man he approached to clasp his hand. Full of energy, full of drive, In seventeen hundred and eighty-five Congress picked him for Secretary of War. Three hundred pounds of basso profundo Was Henry Knox. A heavy, hearty, light-hearted party Was Henry Knox. Enthusiasm always in high, The kind of man who'd never say "die," Robust, rotund, congenial giant was Henry Knox.