Here is Gary Gillard's transcription of the song, from Reinhard's Mainly Norfolk Website:
The Watersons sing Fathom the Bowl
Come all you bold heroes, give an ear to me song;
I will sing in the praise of good brandy and rum:
There's a clear crystal fountain near England shall roll.
Give me the punch ladle, I'll fathom the bowl.
- Chorus (after each verse):
- I'll fathom the bowl, I'll fathom the bowl,
Give me the punch ladle, I'll fathom the bowl.
From France we do get brandy, from Jamaica comes rum;
Sweet oranges and apples from Portugal come.
But stout and strong cider are England's control.
Give me the punch ladle, I'll fathom the bowl.
My wife she do disturb me when I'm laid at my ease,
For she does as she likes and she says as she please.
My wife she's a devil, she's black as the coal.*
Give me the punch ladle, I'll fathom the bowl.
My father he do lie in the depths of the sea
With no stone at his head by, what matters for he?
There's a clear crystal fountain near England shall roll.
Give me the punch ladle, I'll fathom the bowl.
Transcribed by Garry Gillard.
*Not to get himself in trouble when his wife is singing by his side, Dick Holdstock sings, "My wife, she's an angel, like heaven above." (or, like heaven to hold)
sj