The Happy Man is a Morris Stick Dance and Song collected in Adderbury, Oxfordshire by Janet Blunt in 1916 (I think) from Mr. William "Binx" Walton, who said he learnt it from Soloman Line's son (Soloman was known locally as "The Happy Man"), who was an old man when Binx was young. It is one of the Adderbury Dances that is either sung while dancing, or sung with stick clashing the chorus. They used to do this at feasts or when they wanted a rest from dancing. The version in William's Folk Song of the Upper Thames is different to the Adderbury version. THE HAPPY MAN. How happy's that man That's free from all care Who loves to make merry (Rep.) With a drap of good beer. Chorus With his pipe & his friends Puffing hours away Singing song after song Till he hails a new day. He can laugh dance & sing And smoke without fear Be as happy as a king Till he hails a new year. How happy's that man, That's free from all strife He envies no other (Rep.) But travels through life. Our seamen of old They fear not their foes The throw away discord They throw away discord And to mirth they're inclined. Tim Radford
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