Found this thread a bit late by accident so:-

Just to get the lyrics right.....

Then they hired men with thrashes
To beat him high and low.
They came smick-smack upon poor Jack's back
Until the place began to flow.
Then they put him into a mashin' bin
Thinking to burn his tail,
And when he came out they changed his name
For they called him "Home-brewed Ale".

The idea to marry the words with the Hymn tune should be attributed to my old friend and singing colleague Ken (also responsible for "Who's Pigs Are These")... After 20 years apart and the death of our beloved Bass (Steve) we are singing together again to help with the 40th birthday of the Cheltenham Folk Song Club... And intend to continue, possibly to appear at the 50th aniversary of Sidmouth Folk Festival next year... (not really a plug, more of an invitation)
Interesting that we are still getting some "press" after all these years, I don't thing any of us sang together after 1980!!