The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #14178   Message #124315
Posted By: gaffer
15-Oct-99 - 02:25 PM
Thread Name: BS: HELP Am trying to give up smoking.
Subject: Lyr Add: TOBACCO'S BUT AN INDIAN WEED
Just to show that folkies have covered the topic in the past. It has been attributed to the same King James the 1st and 6th that shortened the aforementioned Raleigh - this I doubt but he did publish a "Counterblaste against Tobacco" so he may at least have wished he had been the author!

Tobacco's but an Indian weed,
Grows green at morn, cut down at eve.
It shows our decay;
We are but clay;
Think of this, when you smoke tobacco.

The pipe that is so lily-white,
Wherein so many take delight,
Gone with a touch;
Man's life is such;
Think on this, when you smoke tobacco.

The pipe that is so foul within,
Shews how the soul is stained with sin;
It doth require
The purging fire.
Think on this, when you smoke tobacco.

The ashes that are left behind,
Do serve to put us all in mind,
That unto dust,
Return we must.
Think on this, when you smoke tobacco.

The smoke that doth so high ascend,
Shews that our life must have an end;
The vapour's gone;
Man's life is done.
Think on this, when you smoke tobacco.

PS keep at it!