Lyrics:
Vat gare I for a den cend pie,
No madder of ids made oud of cheese,
So long vat I have mine goot Rhine vine,
I'll laugh und do just vat I blease,
Never gare I how de dimes may go,
Zinzinnatti, Oh, hi-o!
Bully goot Rhine vine does freely flow,
Oh, I oh, I oh….
chorus:
Rhine vine Sharley vas my name,
Und from Germany I game;
Ven I go oud obon a spree,
Drinking Rhine vine yust suids me.
De beobles may of lager dalk,
Und dold you dot it will make you stoud.
Venever I drink a keg of it,
Id makes me sick of my stomach oud:
Down ad a pank vat dey gall “Faro,”
Oh, I oh, Oh, I oh,
Bully old Rhine vine is dere I know,
Oh, I oh, I oh….
Vite vines are vite, pegause dere vite,
De red indeed is alzo red,
But Rhine vine is de sduff, you know,
Pegause id don't fly indo your head;
Some beoble god drunk on viskey I know,
Oh, I oh, I oh….
So gome, who'll lend me fifdeen cends,
Und to-nide I vill go on a spree,
Und ven I'm full, I'll give a doast
To Villiam, de Emperor of Germany.
For de fighting in Europe, not long ago,
Oh, I oh, Oh, I oh,
Vas all apout de Rhine, you know,
Oh, I oh, I oh….
George Leybourne, an English music hall performer who composed this melody, was also the lyricist (but not the composer) of #434 - Champagne Charlie. There is some similarity in the theme and chorus.