Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: TIME'S ALTERATION
From:
chico
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 04:46 AM
"The Old Man's rehearsall, what brave days he knew/A great while agone, when his Old Cap was new."
AIR -- 'Ile nere be drunke againe', or 'Old Simon the King' (or 'When this old Hat was new')
D G D A7
When this old cap was new, 'tis since two hundred yeere;
Bm G A7 D
No malice then we knew, but all things plentie were:
A7 D G D
All friendship now decayes, (Believe me, this is true),
Bm G A7 (G) D
Which was not in those dayes, when this old cap was new.
D G D A7
All friendship now decayes, (Believe me, this is true),
Bm G A7 (G) D
Which was not in those dayes, when this old cap was new.
The nobles of our land were much enlighted then
To have at their command a crue of lustie men;
Which by their coates were knowne, of tawnie, red, or blue,
With crests on their sleeves showne, when this old cap was new.
Now pride hath banisht all, unto our land's reproach,
When he whose meanes is small maintains both horse and coach;
instead of an hundred men, the coach allows but two;
This was no thought on then when this old cap was new.
Good Hospitalitie was cherisht then of many,
Now poore men starve and die, and are not helpt by any:
For Charitie waxeth cold, and Love is found in few:
This was not in time of old, when this old Cap was new.
Where-ever you travel'd then, you might meet on the way
Brave knights and gentlemen clad in their countrey gray,
That courteous would appeare, and kindly welcome you:
Nor Puritans then were when this old cap was new.
Our ladies in those dayes in civill habit went,
Broad-cloth was then worth prayse, and gave the best content:
French fashions then wer scorn'd, fond fangles then none knew,
Then modiestie women adorn'd, when this old cap was new.
A man might then behold at Christmas, in each hall,
Good fires to curbe the cold, and meat for great and small;
The neighbors were friendly bidden, and all had welcome true;
The poore from the gates were not chidden when this old cap was new.
Black-jakes to every man were fill'd with wine and beere;
No pewter pot nor kanne in those dayes did appeare:
Good cheare in a noble-man's house was counted a seemely shew;
We wanted not brawne nor sowse when this old cap was new.
We tooke not such delight in cups of silver fine;
None under the degree of a knight in plate drunke beere or wine:
Now each mechanicall man hath a cup-boord of plate, for a shew,
Which was a rare thing then when this old cap was new.
Then briberie was unborne, no simonie men did use,
Christians did usurie scorne, devis'd among the Jewes:
Then Lawyers to be feed at that time hardly knew;
For man with man agreed when this old cap was new.
No captaine then carowst, nor spent poore souldiers' pay;
The were not so abus'd, as they are at this day:
Of seven dayes they make eight, to keep them from their due:
Poore souldiers had their right when this old cap was new.
Which made them forward still to goe, although not prest:
And going with good will, their fortunes were the best;
Our English then in fight did forraine foes subdue,
And forst them all to flight when this old cap was new.
Good save our gracious King, and send him long to live;
Lord, mischiefe on hem bring that will not theire almes give,
But seeke to rob the poore of that which is their due:
This was not in time of yore when this old cap was new.
[By Martin Parker, c1624. From Whitaker's North Countrie Ballads, 1921.]
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