Willie Williamson with Grace Anderson and others. SA1971.220.7
A couple of verses of an emigrants’ song that possibly dates back to the 18th century. It became very popular in London, such that it was taken up as the ‘anthem’ of a London drinking club or secret society called The Royal Antediluvian Order of the Buffalo – aka – ‘The Buffs’, founded in 1822 . Here Gracie Anderson starts off and Willie Williamson joins for verse two with a bit of a chorus during an informal ceilidh on June 12 1971. (Roud no. 1026).
Come all you wild Indians who chance to appear
We will defend our dwellings, boys, with gun and with fear
We will all unite together and we’ll strike the fatal blow
And we’ll settle on the banks of the lovely Ohio.
We’ll settle on the banks where the pleasant rivers flow,
Through the wild woods we’ll wander and we’ll chase the buffalo, and we’ll chase the buffalo,
Through the wild woods we’ll wander and we’ll chase the buffalo..
There’s fish into the river boys a-fitting for our use,
Likewise the lofty sugar cane that gives the delicious juice;
We’ll all unite together boys and strike a fatal blow
And we’ll settle on the banks of the pleasant Ohio. – ‘chorus boys’
We’ll settle on the banks where the pleasant rivers flow,
Through the wild woods we’ll wander and we’ll chase the buffalo, and we’ll chase the buffalo,
Through the wild woods we’ll wander and we’ll chase the buffalo..
Below are a couple of other verses you may care to adapt -– copied from the website of the RAOB.
Come all you young maidens, come spin us up some yarn,
To make us some new clothing to keep ourselves full warm;
For you can card and spin, my girls, and we can reap and mow,
We lay down on the banks of the pleasant Ohio.
We’ll wander through the wild woods and we’ll chase the buffalo. We’ll chase the buffalo
We’ll wander through the wild woods and chase the buffalo.
Supposing these wild Indians by chance should come us near,
We will unite together our hearts all free from care,
We will march down into the town, my boys, and give the fatal blow,
We lay down on the banks of the pleasant Ohio,
We’ll wander through the wild woods and we’ll chase the buffalo. We’ll chase the buffalo
We’ll wander through the wild woods and chase the buffalo