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User Name Thread Name Subject Posted
Jim Dixon Lyr Req: Come let's be merry (6) Lyr Add: ADVICE TO THE MELANCHOLY 12 Oct 16


These words, with music, appear in The Musical Miscellany: Being a Collection of Choice Songs, and Lyrick Poems..., Volume 4 (London: John Watts, 1730), page 120:

[The repeated words in brackets do not appear in the book, but I infer they should be sung, based on the pattern set by the first verse. I have boldfaced the words that are different from those posted by FreddyHeadey above.]


ADVICE to the MELANCHOLY

    Come, let's be merry, let's be airy,
    'Tis a Folly to be sad;
    For since the World's grown mad, mad, mad,
    Why shou'd we alone be wise,
And like dull Fools, and like dull Fools, and like dull Fools gaze on other Men's Joys?

    Let not To-morrow bring your Sorrow,
    While the Stream of Time flows on;
    But when the blissful Day is past,
    Still endeavour that the next
Be full as gay, [be full as gay, be full as gay,] and as little perplex'd.

    If you have Leisure, follow Pleasure,
    Let not an Hour of Bliss pass by;
    For as the fleeting Minutes fly,
    Time it will your Youth decay,
Then strive to live, [then strive to live, then strive to live,] and be blest whilst you may.

    If you have Plenty, nought will torment you,
    But yet your selves, your selves may annoy;
    Hearty and free's the poor Man's Joy;
    Gladly yielding the Minutes pass,
And when old Time, [and when old Time, and when old Time,] shakes him, takes off his Glass.


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