Words anon. from D'Urfey's Wit and Mirth: or Pills to Purge Melancholy 1719-1720. Tune anon. from The Division
Violin 1685 and Humphry Salter's The Genteel Companion 1683
This was performed by the Albion Dance Band (Shirley Collins, Eddie Upton, vocals; John Rodd, concertina; John Sothcott,
recorder; Phil Pickett, curtal; Simon Nicol, guitar; Ashley Hutchings, bass guitar; Michael Gregory, drums) in a BBC radio
session recorded on July 22, 1976. It was published in 1998 on the CD The BBC Sessions. Another 1996 live recording of
unknown origin is on
The Guv'nor Vol. 2. It has a nice introduction by Shirley and is sung a bit slower than the BBC version.
In a humour I was of late, As many good fellows may be; To think of no matters of state, But to seek for good
company. My hostess was sick of the mumps, The maid was ill at her ease, The tapster drunk in his dumps; They're
all of one disease, That e'er should suit my mind So I travelled up and down No company could I find; Till I came
to the sight of The Crown.
- Chorus (after each verse):
- |: Says Old Sir Simon the King :|
With his ale-drop't hose and his malmsey nose Sing hey-ding-ding
If a Puritan skinker do cry, “Dear Brother it is a sin, To drink if you be dry.” Then straight this
tale I begin. A Puritan lay down his can And took up a foaming jug And there he played the man As long as he could
tug. And when that he was spied Did ever he swear or rail? “No truly, dear brother,” he cried, “Indeed
all flesh is frail.”
If a man should be drunk tonight And laid in his grave tomorrow Would you or any man say That he died of care
or sorrow? Hang up all sorrow and care `Tis able to kill a cat And he that will drink all night Is never afraid
of that! For drinking will make a man quaff, And quaffing will make a man sing; Singing will make a man laugh, And
laughter long life doth bring
The lyrics were copied from the Ashley Hutchings songbook A Little Music.
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