Origins: definition of drinking songs&...

Subject: Origins: definition of drinking songs&...
From: GUEST,sheiLA
Date: 10 Jun 15 - 11:45 AM

Hi folks, I'm a researcher who has hit a wall with trying to find a good definition of 'drinking songs' within an Irish and Scottish sphere. Also looking for a collection which features a number of drinking songs. Thanks in advance for your help.

Subject: RE: Origins: definition of drinking songs&...
From: Gibb Sahib
Date: 10 Jun 15 - 12:14 PM

What is it that you're actually researching?

Subject: RE: Origins: definition of drinking songs&...
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jun 15 - 05:31 PM

I'm comparing the songs of Robert Burns and Thomas Moore thematically. I've written about love-songs, political songs and pastoral songs. My final focus will be drinking songs if I can get it off the ground. I've looked at these areas as they have been key aspects in defining Irish and Scottish culture.

Subject: RE: Origins: definition of drinking songs&...
From: Reinhard
Date: 11 Jun 15 - 12:32 AM

A.L. Lloyd: English Drinking Songs (1956)

Subject: RE: Origins: definition of drinking songs&...
From: Leadfingers
Date: 11 Jun 15 - 07:02 AM

MY definition of 'A Drinking Song' is ANY song about the intake of alcoholic beverages , or ANY song that traditionally might be enjoyed by a group of imbibers in a social setting .

Subject: RE: Origins: definition of drinking songs&...
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 11 Jun 15 - 02:41 PM

Bringing it up to date you could do a lot worse than Keith Marsden's bring us a barrel. No help for origins but, to me, the perfect drinking song. :-)

Subject: RE: Origins: definition of drinking songs&...
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 11 Jun 15 - 02:50 PM

If you're writing about themes then Leadfingers' 'or' needs taking into consideration. Songs that have a theme which is primarily about drinking and drink are easy to identify. However you would need to do a lot of pleasurable research to identify convivial songs, i.e., those that are not about drink but which are often sung in a drinking environment.

Be aware that some songs that are on the face of it drinking songs, e.g., The Wild Rover, are actually anti-drinking songs.

Subject: RE: Origins: definition of drinking songs&...
From: Brian Peters
Date: 11 Jun 15 - 05:24 PM

A lot of the older stuff is accessible by searching 'Alehouse Ballads'. Here's one result from that search: 17th Century Drinking Songs

'The Wild Rover' is a descendant from a whole family of anti-drinking broadsides from the late 17th century, but songs celebrating the convivial side (e.g. 'Jones' Ale') originated around the same time too.