Chanson de Boheme / O Henry

Lives of great men all remind us

Rose is red and violet's blue;

Johnny's got his gun behind us

'Cause the lamb loved Mary too.

—Robert Burns' "Hocht Time in the aud Town."

I'd rather write this, as bad as it is

Than be Will Shakespeare's shade;

I'd rather be known as an F. F. V.

Than in Mount Vernon laid.

I'd rather count ties from Denver to Troy

Than to head Booth's old programme;

I'd rather be special for the New York World

Than to lie with Abraham.

For there's stuff in the can, there's Dolly and Fan,

And a hundred things to choose;

There's a kiss in the ring, and every old thing

That a real live man can use.

I'd rather fight flies in a boarding house

Than fill Napoleon's grave,

And snuggle up warm in my three slat bed

Than be André the brave.

I'd rather distribute a coat of red

On the town with a wad of dough

Just now, than to have my cognomen

Spelled "Michael Angelo."

For a small live man, if he's prompt on hand

When the good things pass around,

While the world's on tap has a better snap

Than a big man under ground.