The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #49309   Message #744934
Posted By: Nigel Parsons
09-Jul-02 - 04:06 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Here's a Health to the Company
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here's a Health to the Company
Apart from having an extra verse, the SSSB version (6th edition 1897) has a slight variation in the first verse, "our glorious class", not "His glorious class".
The third vese sees a more prominent change

Come, fill up your glasses; I'll give you a toast,
Vive la compagnie
Here's a health to our friend our kind worthy host.
Vive la compagnie

And the additional final verse

Since all with good humour you've toasted so free,
Vive la compagnie
I hope it will please you to drink now with me.
Vive la compagnie

I can imagine the aural tradition losing this last verse, as it offers to provide a round of drinks, and could get expensive.

Nigel