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Lyr Req: Drink Up the Cider

08 Dec 98 - 12:14 PM (#48571)
Subject: Lyrics to Drink up the Cider
From: Mac

Does anyone know the words to Drink up the Cider? The chorus goes: "Drink up the cider, drink up the cider, for tonight we'll merry be. We'll knock the milkmaids over, and roll them in the clover. The corn's half-cut and so are we."

08 Dec 98 - 01:46 PM (#48583)
Subject: RE: Lyrics to Drink up the Cider
From: Bobby Bob, Ellan Vannin

Is this Adge Cutler and the Wurzel's song? 'Drink up Thy Cider' was, I think, the title track of the first album recorded live by Adge and the boys. They used to perform at a pub in Nailsea in the Bristol area, which is where it was recorded.

Adge himself died some years ago, but the Wurzels went on and did pastiches like 'Brand New Combine Harvester', which was based on Melanie's 'Brand New Pair of Roller Skates', and 'I Am a Cider Drinke', based on 'Una Paloma Blanca'. I'm not sure if that's eclectic. Maybe disreputable is the word I'm looking for.

I started off writing this because I was thinking I had something by Adge Cutler and the Wurzels somewhere in the house, but now I'm not so sure. I'll keep on looking, but as Adge Cutler and the Wurzels have come up in previous threads, I'm sure someone else will oblige.

Cheers,

Bobby Bob

11 Dec 98 - 12:26 AM (#48937)
Subject: RE: Lyrics to Drink up the Cider
From: DonMeixner

Drink up the Cider is a Tommy Makem song and can be found in his Tommy Makem Songbook. The song book used to be an inducement to subscribe to the Irish Echo

Don

28 Mar 00 - 01:53 PM (#202712)
Subject: Drink Up the Cider
From: GUEST,Irish Brigade

Heard Tommy Makem sing it solo & with Liam Clancy. The chorus: Drink Up the Cider (repeat) For tonight we'll merry be. We'll knock the milkmaids over, then roll them in the clover. For the corn's half cut and so are we.

Your help will be appreciated.

28 Mar 00 - 03:07 PM (#202772)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Drink Up the Cider
From: Hollowfox

Also done by the Liverpool duo Jacqui & Bridie, but I don't know if the ever recorded it. Try "Drink up thee cider" (thee=your) in your search. Good luck.

28 Mar 00 - 04:31 PM (#202814)
Subject: Lyr Add: DRINK UP THE CIDER
From: SeanM

It doesn't look as if the lyrics are in the DT, so here goes (for the version that my group sings):

DRINK UP THE CIDER

Drink up the cider jar, pass us round the jug
Drink up the cider jar, my lips are all tied up
Eat up all your smelt, then loosen up your belt
And there's still more cider in the jar

(Chorus)
Drink up the cider, drink up the cider
For tonight, we'll merry be
We'll knock the millstones over
And roll them in the clover
The cider's jarred, and so are we

Drink up the cider jar, things are going far
Drink up the cider jar, we're getting quite a start
My cheeks are getting redder, my sight is getting better
And there's still more cider in the jar

(Chorus)

Drink up the cider jar, get up off the mat
Drink up the cider jar, now aren't I getting fat?
I can't get off my perch, and I'm not going to church
And there's still more cider in the jar

(Chorus)

Drink up the cider jar, get it in your chest
Drink up the cider jar, it's time I had a rest
There's nothing like more cider to make my smile grow wider
And there's still more cider in the jar
^^

Here's a prayer to the gods of HTML that I remembered to close all those damn brackets...

M

Makem & Clancy recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npZTq-ezlAA

Wurzels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7onOJ-QgXY0

28 Mar 00 - 04:33 PM (#202815)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Drink Up the Cider
From: MMario

"Close, Close, damned bracket!

looks like it worked!

28 Mar 00 - 04:48 PM (#202826)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Drink Up the Cider
From: bill\sables

I think it was written by Adge Cuttler who was lead singer with the Worzels before he died.

28 Mar 00 - 05:00 PM (#202841)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Drink Up the Cider
From: Hollowfox

Instead of "the cider's jarred and so are we", J&B sang "the corn's half cut and so are we"

28 Mar 00 - 05:57 PM (#202874)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Drink Up the Cider
From: SeanM

There're several versions out there. A few of us dug up a bit more bawdy of a rendition, with a chorus including "we'll knock your daughters over", and lyrics slightly changed to reflect that...

I've also heard something to the effect of "Pass it 'round and then we'll merry be" rather than "for tonight..."

Ain't folk wonderful?

M

29 Mar 00 - 12:30 PM (#203309)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Drink Up the Cider
From: GUEST,Irish Brigade

Thanks, friends! I've got enough tips to put together a nice version in case we're ever asked to sing it again.

25 Mar 10 - 07:42 AM (#2871425)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Drink Up the Cider
From: GUEST,Wendy

The Yetties (still performing) play Drink Up Ye Cider, in fact Pete Shuttler was an early player with Adge Cutler prior to the Yetties days.

27 May 17 - 06:13 PM (#3857448)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Drink Up the Cider
From: GUEST

"Drink up thy cider Jarge [George]", it's supposed to be.

28 May 17 - 04:01 AM (#3857504)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Drink Up the Cider
From: BobL

Lyrics at http://www.thewurzels.com/lyricsdrinkup.htm