One of Harry Clifton's motto/moralistic songs:


UP WITH THE LARK IN THE MORNING
   (Merry and Wise)
   Words by Harry Clifton.
   Music by F. A. Springthorpe.
   Arranged by Martin Hobson.
   Tempo: Moderato

        1
I like to be jolly, in a moderate way,
But think it a pity to hear folks say,
Drink and be merry till the break of day;
   No "Jolly Dog" am I.
On my exertions I depend,
   No other wealth I crave,
And though I have the heart to spend,
   I've still the sense to save.

        Chorus.
   For I never drink hard it don't suit me,
   Nor toast my friend with a one, two, three,
   Merry and wise is the motto for me,
     And up with the lark in the morning.

        2
There's a time for pleasure, and a time for play,
A time to labour, and a time to be gay;
If the sun shines bright, you must make your hay,
   And I'll tell the reason why,
Today we may be hale and strong,
   Tomorrow who can tell,
Without the health to earn a pound,
   Without a friend as well.
        Chorus: So I never drink hard,...

        3
If I had the money that many have got,
I'd scatter a bit in the laborers' cot,
And the struggling poor, for I pity their lot,
   No miserly man am I.
No deserving man should say,
   He ever pass'd my door
In want, upon the world's highway,
   I'd ne'er forget the poor.
        Chorus: Though I never drink hard,...

        4
So I've always a penny if I want to lend,
I've always a penny if I want to spend,
I've always a penny for a poor old friend,
   For a careful man am I.
I envy not the rich man's lot,
   Or princes' diadem;
The poor man working at the plough,
   Will one day equal them.
        Chorus: Yet I never drink hard,...


Source: Original sheet music published by Lee & Walker, serial number 10738. Available online in the Lester S. Levy Collection.
Lyrics and music transcribed by Artful Codger.


ABC transcription of the melody:
I've included the top part of the piano introduction and break/finale, but have inserted pauses between the piano and vocal parts, so it's clearer when to sing.

X: 1
T: Up with the Lark in the Morning
T: Merry and Wise
C: Words by Harry Clifton. Music by F.A. Springthorpe.
C: Arranged by Martin Hobson
%%MIDI program 1 72
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
Q:1/4=90 "Moderato"
K: Eb
% ** Extra measures of rests inserted between the piano and vocal parts.
%
%    Piano introduction
(g/a/) | b b (c'/e'/d'/c'/) | bg e>g | fc f>e | dc' b(g/a/) |
bb (c'/e'/d'/c'/) | bg e>g | fcdb | e2 [egbe'] ||   z|z3||
% ** Extra measure of rests inserted at end of piano part.
%    Verse.
(G/A/) | B B/ B/ c/ e/ d/ c/ | B/ B/ G E> G | F C/ C/ F/ F/ E | D c B2 |
w: I_ like to be jol-ly, in a mo-de-rate way, But think it a pi-ty to hear folks say,
%
B B/ B/ c/ e/ d/ c/ | B G E> G | F< C D B | E2-E> F |
w: Drink and be mer-ry till the break of day; No "Jol-ly Dog" am I._ On
%
F F G =A | B c d> d | d c G =A | F2-F> F |
w: my ex-er-tions I de-pend, No o-ther wealth I crave,_ And
%
F F G =A | B c d> d | d c G =A | HLB2 || "^Chorus." c HLd |
% ** Corrected third note from A to G.
w: though I have the heart to spend, I've still the sense to save. For I
%
%    Chorus
e/ e/ G G (F/E/) | c c c z/c/ | d d d c/ d/ | e e e z |
w: ne-ver drink hard it_ don't suit me, Nor toast my friend with a one two three,
%
e/ e/ G G F/ E/ | c/ c/ c c> c | d d/ d/ c B/ B/ | e2 e ||
w: Mer-ry and wise is the mot-to for me, And up with the lark in the mor-ning.
%
%    Piano break
% ** Extra measure of rests inserted at start of piano part.
z|z3||   B/B/ | e G (3G/A/G/F/E/ | L[EAc]L[EAc] L[EAc] z/c/ | dd/d/ cB/B/ | e2 [egbe'] x ||


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