The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #88774 Message #3209570
Posted By: Joe Offer
19-Aug-11 - 03:15 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Let Union Be In All Our Hearts - Grange?
Subject: ADD: Slavish Trade of Drinking
Come, my lads, and let's be merry, Take a glass, and not to many, For fear it should your ruin prove— Beware of what you're doing. For drinking is a slavish trade, And many a beggar it has made ? Yes, thousands in the grave are laid, All by the sway of drinking. Fal lal de ral, &c.
If you go to the Ale-house for to drink, They'll hand you a chair with a compliment And kindly ask you how do you do— You think that is rare doing: But when all your money's gone, Into the streets they will you turn; Then you must either starve or steal, All by the sway of drinking. Fal lal de ral, &c.
O keep from swearing and from fighting, Evil speaking and back-biting; All such as this take no delight in, Whilst you do make merry: For when you drink your money goes, And when you're drunk you pawn your clothes, Then like a fool yourself expose, All by the sway of drinking. Fal lal de ral, &c.
Sage Solomon, in all his glory, Tells you quite a different story, We ought to sing in the praise of glory, Whilst we do make merry: But as we're all met here to day, Let's drink and drive dull care away; And each be happy while he may— Let's all drink and be merry. Fal lal de ral, &c.
Bodleian Ballads Catalogue: Harding B 11(3545)
Printer: Stephenson (Gateshead) Date: between 1821 and 1850 Imprint: Stephenson, Printer Illus. Ballads on sheet: 2 Note: Printed on blue paper.
Note that the original text has a couple of errors - I've put them in bold.