OK as nobody's put the words up here they are@

THE BARD'S REFORMATION   by Sam Bamford

Adieu to the alehouse where pounds I have spent
Where drinking and smoking bring little content
Where laughing and grinning and betting and winning
Cause sorrowful sinning the roar and the rant
To a better beginning is now my intent

Adieu to the fiddle the dance and the song
To the lads and the lasses I've tripped it among
Adieu unto Johnny who dances so bonny
The tightest of ony; Yon flag it can tell
The weight of his steps and he timeth them well

Adieu to the glance of the love looking e'e
To the lip that is sweet as the mel of the bee
The waist that is charming the movement so warming
The purpose disarming of mortals like me
And prudence alarming commands me to flee

Adieu to the lads who are dons in the fray
I've born their sore bruises for mony a day
There's Darby and Dobbin, Mad Ab and Rough Robin
At kicking or nobbin, do carry the bay
There's no country gobbin can bear it away

Farewell tot he lads who love frolic and fun
And gaily support it when once tis begun
There's Dick, Ned and Simon, true lovers of joy, mon
I've ne'er found 'em coy mon at fuddle or spree
The tear and the sigh mon before 'em will flee

Farewell to the doctor who's wit it is bright
As the glim of the glow worm on a grey summer's night
His cordial, delicious, his green peas for issues
Pills plasters and washes are flitted to Lees
The sick of the village to cure from disease

"The Gentleman's" company I must refrain
Although the denial may cost me much pain
He singeth so sweetly, he diddles so neatly
With snuff he will treat you, Aye "honour" he will
The toper of topers is "Gentleman Sprill"

So now to my own little nook I'll retire
I'll bar out the storm and I'll trim up the fire
This witchery breaking, all folly forsaking
To study betaking - my mind to improve
My muse ever waking to freedom and love


The notes for this song say:
The notion of forsaking the pleasures of the alehouse, the fiddle and all that is joyful, to study and improve the mind was popular in nineteenth century Lancashire but this bard, one suspects, found the pleasure too joyful to be really serious about forsaking them!

Sam Bamford was a radical leader and chronicler of the early 19th century and is remembered for the part he played in, and his account of, the meeting at Peter's Fields also to become known as the Peterloo massacre in 1819.

He was also interested in local traditions suchas pace egging and mummers plays and was conscious of the fact that they were rapidly dying out - even then!

Hope this helps

Cheers

Mark