DON'T STOP MY 'ARF A PINT O' BEER
Words by Cornelius Pratt; music by J. Charles Moore; ©1907.
As recorded by Gus Elen

1. Now I'm a chap what's moderate in all I has to drink,
And if it's wrong, well, tell me what is right,
'Cause if you say it's wrong, well, there you're just like Lizzie Ann
When I proposed to her one Sunday night.
It was just after closing time; she'd come to take me home,
And her words they made me think of suicide.
When she said: "If we get spliced, you must not drink beer again,"
I went down on me marrow-bones and cried:

CHORUS: Oh, don't stop me half-a-pint of beer.
It's the only thing that's keeping me alive.
I don't mind your stopping of me coffee and me tea,
But half a pint of beer a day is medicine to me.
I shan't want no other luxury,
Such as champagne and whisky; never fear.
If you want to see me happy and contented all me life,
Don't stop me half-a-pint of beer.

2. Your humble once got in a nasty trouble with the p'lice,
Which brought me notoriety and fame.
A kind and simple gentleman asked me to change a cheque
Which bore a high and mighty big pot's name.
Well, I got the gentleman the cash; your humble got a stretch,
And soon into the prison I was led;
But when the warders told me 'twas a temperance hotel,
I turned round to the governor and said:

CHORUS: Oh, don't stop me half-a-pint of beer.
It's the only thing that's keeping me alive.
I don't mind your stopping of the skilly and the tea,
But half a pint of beer a day is medicine to me.
I shan't want no other luxury,
And I shan't want no wages while I'm here.
I don't mind the five years; I can do it on me head,
But don't stop me half-a-pint of beer.