PUSH THE BOWL ABOUT.
(from Folksongs of the Upper Thames p89 - by Alfred Williams).

Come push the bowl about, my boys,.
And never mind the score! .
And when this good liquor's gone,.
We'll boldly call for more. .

Chorus:.
As to him that will not merry, merry be,.
May he never taste of joys! .
See! See! the game's in view .
And follow, my brave boys. .

The misers are the worst in this world,.
They ofttimes count the score. .
But give to me contentment,.
I'll never ask for more. .

Here's a health unto our absent lass,.
Whoever she may be;.
She dwells in habitations .
More brighter than we. .

DRINKING SONG .
(from Canow Kernow p49 by Inglis Gundry).

Pass the jug around, my boys, and never mind the score,.
When this is all drunk up. we'll boldly call for more. .
For tonight we'll merry, merry be and think not of past joys,.
See, see the games in view and forward my brave boys. .

Never drunk shall he be called who rises from the floor,.
He who can rise alone and still can take some more. .
Drunkard we will never, never call him till he prostrate lies,.
When he's bereft of all the power to drink or rise. .

CHANTY SONG .
(from Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia p113-114 by Helen Creighton).

So it's pass around the grog, my boys, and never mind the scores,.
But give to me the girl I love, I'll never ask for more. .
Oh here's to him that merry be, and never taste of joy,.
Sing, sing the merry, merry song, March onward my brave boys. .

Oh, here's to Queen Victoria, oh long may she reign,.
Here's to her jolly tars that plough the raging main. .
For here's to him that merry be, and never taste of joy,.
Sing, sing the merry, merry song, March onward my brave boys. .
Oh it's pass around the grog, my boys, and never count the scores,.
And when our money is all gone we'll go to sea for more. .
Oh here's to him that merry be, and never taste of joy,.
Sing, sing the merry, merry song, March onward my brave boys. .

PASS AROUND THE GROG .
(as sung by Tommy Morrissey and Charlie Pitman on the cassette of the same name issued by Veteran Tapes VT122 - see their website).

Come pass around the grog, me boys, and never mind the score,.
Drink the good old liquor down before we call for more. .
For to see who will not merry, merry be; shall never taste of joy,.
See, see the cape's in view and forward my brave boys. .

Here's a health unto her majesty and long may she reign,.
Queen of all the seven seas and the pride of the Spanish main,.
For to see who will not merry, merry be; shall never taste of joy,.
See, see the cape's in view and forward my brave boys. .

There's one thing more I'll ask of you before we'll call for more,.
Give to me the girl I love and the key of the cellar door. .
For to see who will not merry, merry be; shall never taste of joy,.
See, see the cape's in view and forward my brave boys. .

I've also heard the song called 'The Padstow Drinking Song'.

Such heroic sentiments require as many versions as possible. .

bigJ .