I.
Robby and Bobby and Billy and Ned,
Philip and Peter and Guy,
They vowed, every one, they’d have glorious fun
On the glorious Fourth of July.
They spent all their money on trumpets and drums,
On fish-horns and pistols and guns,
On elephant crackers (which they pronounced “whackers”),
On toffee, torpedoes, and buns.
II.
Robby and Bobby and Billy and Ned,
Philip and Peter and Guy,
They said with delight, “We will sit up all night,
To make ready for Fourth of July.
We will beat on our drums till the constable comes,
And then we will hasten away.
We will toot the gay horn till the coming of morn,
The morn of the glorious day.”
III.
Robby and Bobby and Billy and Ned,
Philip and Peter and Guy,
They made such a noise that the other small boys
With envy were ready to die.
They made such a din that the neighbors within
With fury were ready to choke,
With rage at the drumming and strumming and humming,
The pistols and powder and smoke.
IV.
Robby and Bobby and Billy and Ned,
Philip and Peter and Guy,
They thought ‘twould be best for a moment to rest,
And their toffee and buns for to try.
On the steps of a house they began to carouse,
And they shouted and shrieked in their glee,
As they fired their guns and devoured their buns
In a manner both frolic and free.
V.
Robby and Bobby and Billy and Ned,
Philip and Peter and Guy,
Ah! nothing they saw of the opening door,
Nothing knew of the peril so nigh.
A horrid great man with a watering-can
Was standing behind them so still,
And suddenly down on each curly crown
Its contents he poured with a will.
VI.
Robby and Bobby and Billy and Ned,
Philip and Peter and Guy,
With squeaks and with squeals did they take to their heels,
While their enemy after did fly.
And he beat them with sticks, and he kicked them with kicks,
And he thumped on their heads with the can,
And half-way up the street he pursued them so fleet,
Still thumping their heads as he ran.
VII.
Robby and Bobby and Billy and Ned,
Philip and Peter and Guy,
They said, every one, that it wasn’t much fun
Getting ready for Fourth of July.
They crept to their beds and they laid down their heads,
And they slept till the sun was on high,
And when they awaked, so sorely they ached,
That they just could do nothing but cry.