Ye gentlemen and ladies fair who grace this famous city
Just listen if you've time to spare while I rehearse a ditty
And for the opportunity conceive yourself quite lucky
For 'tis not often that you see a hunter from Kentucky

Oh, Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky
Oh, Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky

We are a hardy, free-born race, each man to fear a stranger
Whate'er the game we join in chase, despising toil and danger
And if a daring foe annoys, whate'er his strength and forces
We'll show him that Kentucky boys are alligator horses

Oh, Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky
Oh, Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky

I s'pose you've read it in the prints how Packenham attempted
To make old Hickory Jackson wince, but soon his scheme repented
For we with rifles ready cocked, thought such occasion lucky
And soon around the general flocked the hunters of Kentucky

Oh, Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky
Oh, Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky

You've heard, I s'pose, how New Orleans is famed for wealth and beauty
There's girls of every hue it seems, from snowy white to sooty
So Packenham he made his brags if he in fight was lucky
He'd have their girls and cotton bags in spite of old Kentucky

Oh, Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky
Oh, Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky

But Jackson, he was wide awake and was not scared at trifles
For well he knew what aim we take with our Kentucky rifles
He led us down to Cyprus Swamp, the ground was low and mucky
There stood John Bull in martial pomp and here was old Kentucky

Oh, Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky
Oh, Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky

A bank was raised to hide our breast, not that we thought of dying
But that we always like to rest unless the game is flying
Behind it stood our little force, none wished it to be greater
For every man was half a horse and half an alligator

Oh, Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky
Oh, Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky

They did not let our patience tire before they showed their faces
We did not choose to waste our fire, so snugly kept our places
But when so near we saw them wink, we thought it time to stop 'em
And 'twould have done you good, I think, to see Kentuckians drop 'em

Oh, Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky
Oh, Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky

They found at last 'twas vain to fight where lead was all their booty
And so they wisely took to flight and left us to our beauty
And now if danger e'er annoys, remember what our trade is
Just send for us Kentucky boys and we'll protect you, ladies

Oh, Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky
Oh, Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky