The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #15756   Message #1965897
Posted By: Jim Dixon
13-Feb-07 - 08:24 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Fathom the Bowl
Subject: Lyr Add: BOWL! BOWL! (FATHOM THE BOWL)
Surprisingly, I can't find a version of this at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads. There's this, though:

From and article called "Old English Drinking Songs" in "The Gentleman's Magazine," 1907, viewable with Google Book Search.

BOWL! BOWL!

Come all you good fellows, give ear to me, come!
I'll sing in the praise of good brandy and rum.
Old ale and good cyder o'er England do roll.
Give me the punch-ladle, I'll fathom the bowl!

CHORUS: I'll fathom the bowl, I'll fathom the bowl,
Bowl! Give me the punch-ladle, I'll fathom the bowl.

My father he lies in the depths of the sea,
With the stones at his feet, but no matter to me;
There's a clear crystal fountain o'er England doth roll,
Give me the punch-ladle, I'll fathom the bowl!

From France there comes brandy, from Jamaica comes rum,
Sweet oranges and lemons from Portugal come,
Old ale and good cyder o'er England do roll
Give me the punch-ladle, I'll fathom the bowl!

[There is also a tune there that looks different from the one I've heard, but I don't read music very well.]