BALLAD OF TERUEL by Unattributed
Sign outside Teruel, January 1938; 11-1366, D251.
The Volunteer, v2, no. 2, January 13, 1938
BALLAD OF TERUEL
The General stood in Teruel
Whence not a few had fled;
He called his brave defenders up
And unto them he said:
“Soldiers, today we stand as one
To crush the wicked Red.
“On you, my brave ten thousand men,
I know I can depend
To guard our virgin citadel
Unto the bitter end.
“My staunch five thousand, mustered here,
Will march against the foe
And die with laughter on their lips
Because they like it so.
“I place implicit faith in you,
My fine six hundred men,
And I’ll repay you all in gold
One day (no matter when)
“None dare assert there’s braver troops
Or fairer flowers of youth
Than the two hundred standing here
(Well, not with any truth).
“Courage, my strong one hundred hearts!
The enemy arrive!
My fifty boys, my twenty lads,
My ten, my seven, my five…”
One soldier stood in Teruel
And boldly up spake he:
“You said, today we stand as one
That one shall not be me.”
“Get off my horse!” the General roared.
(The rest is history)
