Mea culpa!

At my instigation, My band Cyderman's Fancy collectively wrote all but the first of the above verses.

the pastime with good company verse was penned by Jon Berger, the gouty toe verse was written by Steve Aultman, and (blish) the "breast be dun/hair be wire" verse was cobbled together by me, Claire Beorn Norman. All of us had a hand in that final verse, as I recall.

This was many years ago (maybe early '80s?). We inaugurated the held note/downed pint thing too--unless we reinvented it, which is of course possible.

It is wonderful to know that the song and treatment are still remembered.

I got the words to the first verse (the only verse printed in the book I got the song from) in a tattered old Penguin paperback book that I acquired, used and coverless, in Canada and whose name, sadly, I do not recall. I may have it at home -- I'll check. The song was called "A Health Unto His Majesty" and was maybe 18th century. Anyway, the tune we used was from there as well.

Cheers!
Claire