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The retelling of a piece of early Western Pennsylvania history is by a contemporary songwriter, Robert Schmertz. Prof. Schmertz of Carnegie Institute of Technology, an architect, gives us the story of young George Washington in a delightful song which will help you remember your history.
In 1753, George Washington came to the Ohio,
A year past twenty and he had plenty of old get-up-and-go,
He didn't seem to mind the Indians or the ice and snow,
As George came a-looking and a-riding and a-walking
To the Forks of the Ohio.
So George went a-looking and a-riding and a-walking
To the Forks of the Ohio.
Now Lord Dinwiddle, the royal governor of
Virginia
Said, George, you better go west a month or so,
See what the Frenchmen say,
Just tell them that the King don't want them
And they had better go,
So George went a-looking and a-riding and a-walking
To the Forks of the Ohio.
Now, Queen Aliquippa was the Indian skipper
Of a tribe down Logstown way,
George thought he'd better win this lady Indian
And without delay,
So he took her a coat and a jug of whiskey
And he stayed a day or so,
Then George came a-looking and a-riding and a-walking
To the Forks of the Ohio.
He met with a trapper whose name was Christoper
Gist,
The hist'ries say,
Who looked mighty dapper in a coonskin capper
And a buckskin negligee,
And George said, Christopher, let's get traveling,
Erie's where we'll go,
So they both went a-looking and a-riding and a-walking
From the Forks of the Ohio.
George and Christopher kept on traveling
Clear to Fort LeBoeuf,
George said, We'll state 'em an ultimatum,
But the Frenchmen called their bluff,
When George said, Gentlemen, vite tout de suite,
The Commandant said, Non!
So they came back a-looking and a-riding and a-walking
To the Forks of the Ohio.
They came back down to the wide Allegheny
And they built themselves a raft,
But Christopher he didn't quite get the gist of her
'Cause he thought fore was aft,
And George fell smack into the water
While the wintry winds did blow,
And George came a-swimming and a-sneezing and a-coughing
To the Forks of the Ohio.
Now if you go a-riding or a-walking on a
Sunday afternoon,
A walk by the river is good for the liver
And you might try this tune,
On the very same spot where George came traveling
Many years ago,
When George came a-looking and a-riding and a-walking
To the Forks of the Ohio.