First, I'd like to say, "Wow." I did a quick google search to find a good link to the variant origins of this song - but never thought I'd hit such an interesting goldmine in one thread.

My personal experience and opinion is this:

Firstly, I was searching for this song because I worked for years at a renaissance faire; as many do, ours in Sterling, NY ended with this song - kind of a beautiful way to say "last call, folks." I remember it fondly and often. The troupe there sang it with the "bloomin' heather" line as well -- and I must say that it is that particular line that sticks in my head, which may relate to the next point:

As an amateur who has studied language and poetry, even I understand a few easy, strong points [:Dave] -- rules can be broken, and when they are, and done so gracefully, they are more powerful for it; in addition, a great deal of poetry and prose throughout the centuries has delicately wove its way between rhyme and un-rhyme, in the same piece; lastly, FORGET how YOU might pronounce it -- have you ANY idea how a 17th to 18th century balladeer, or peasant for that matter, would pronounce it?? Or how others assemble it?

When I was at the Faire, the queen would pause long (as most people I've heard sing this do...) on the word blooming right before heather, thus rhyming with the previous bloomin, and moving heather, memorably, nearly to it's own line in the stanza.

She also added a lovely verse that I wish I could remember fully -umm..

and we'll all raise our glasses
and [toast] the evening come

... {wish I could remember the second 2 lines..
... ...that's why I was looking in the first place... :) }

Point - it's creativity, intelligence & style, Dave. And not limiting yourself to rhyme, even -- or especially --when the 'rest' of your piece does rhyme, shows a true comprehension of the possibilities of the human voice -- and an insight into the different ways that the same sentence, or verse, can be read, or sung, by each of us just a wee bit differently than another.

Don't be afraid
of words that
don't rhyme, Dave.
Or don't, if you
aren't
list
en
ing.

( tell e e cummings he sucked. i dare you. he'll haunt yer ass :) )

Yessir that's me -- rico
rico@i8theworld.com