From the Gardiner Manuscripts - Mr. Channon, Basingstoke, Hampshire.

Tim Radford

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SERIOUS TOM.

Here's Serious Tom sits over his bowl
With his pipe & his pot for to cheer his soul
While his gay companions round him sing
He'll muse awhile and then He'll sing
He'll muse awhile and then He'll sing

A single-life is a life of joy
There is no girl on Earth shall my peace destroy
For I'll laugh & joke & drink & sing
And live as happy as a King,
For while we are here with our friends all around
There's no greater pleasure can be found.

I own, I love a single life
There's many live happy with a wife
But when all is said and all is done
The hazard is too great to run
The hazard is too great to run.

A single life - etc..