Didn’t know Flynn,--
Flynn of Virginia,--
Long as he’s been ’yar?
Look’ee here, stranger,
Whar _hev_ you been?
Here in this tunnel
He was my pardner,
That same Tom Flynn,--
Working together,
In wind and weather,
Day out and in.
Didn’t know Flynn!
Well, that _is_ queer;
Why, it’s a sin
To think of Tom Flynn,--
Tom with his cheer,
Tom without fear,--
Stranger, look ’yar!
Thar in the drift,
Back to the wall,
He held the timbers
Ready to fall;
Then in the darkness
I heard him call:
“Run for your life, Jake!
Run for your wife’s sake!
Don’t wait for me.”
And that was all
Heard in the din,
Heard of Tom Flynn,--
Flynn of Virginia.
That’s all about
Flynn of Virginia.
That lets me out.
Here in the damp,--
Out of the sun,--
That ’ar derned lamp
Makes my eyes run.
Well, there,--I’m done!
But, sir, when you’ll
Hear the next fool
Asking of Flynn,--
Flynn of Virginia,--
Just you chip in,
Say you knew Flynn;
Say that you’ve been ’yar.