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19 Sep 11 - 06:10 AM (#3225451) Subject: Origins: The Fall (in Guinness' Brewery) From: MartinRyan I've been hearing this as a recitation for some years. Can anyone confirm the details as to authorship and publication given in this blog entry from a few years ago: ------------------------------------------------ The Fall Fergus Allen [from The Brown Parrots of Providencia (1993, Faber & Faber)] The Garden of Eden (described in the Bible) Was Guinness's Brewery (mentioned by Joyce), Where innocent Adam and Eve were created And dwelt from necessity rather than choice; For nothing existed but Guinness's Brewery, Guinness's Brewery occupied all, Guinness's Brewery everywhere, anywhere - Woe that expulsion succeeded the Fall! The ignorant pair were encouraged in drinking Whatever they fancied whenever they could, Except for the porter or stout which embodied Delectable knowledge of Evil and Good. In Guinness's Brewery, innocent, happy, They tended the silos and coppers and vats, They polished the engines and coopered the barrels And even made pets of the Brewery rats. One morning while Adam was brooding and brewing It happened that Eve had gone off on her own, When a serpent like ivy slid up to her softly And murmured seductively, Are we alone? O Eve, said the serpent, I beg you to sample A bottle of Guinness's excellent stout, Whose nutritive qualities no one can question And stimulant properties no one can doubt; It's tonic, enlivening, strengthening, heartening, Loaded with vitamins, straight from the wood, And further enriched with the not undesirable Lucrative knowledge of Evil and Good. So Eve was persuaded and Adam was tempted, They fell and they drank and continued to drink, (their singing and dancing and shouting and prancing Prevented the serpent from sleeping a wink). Alas, when the couple had finished the battle And swallowed the final informative drops, They looked at each other and knew they were naked And covered their intimate bodies with hops. The anger and rage of the Lord were appalling, He wrathfully cursed them for taking to drink And hounded them out of the Brewery, followed By beetles (magenta) and elephants (pink). The crapulous couple emerged to discover A universe full of diseases and crimes, Where porter could only be purchased for money In specified places at specified times. And now in this world of confusion and error Our only salvation and hope is to try To threaten and bargain our way into Heaven By drinking the heavenly Brewery dry. |
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19 Sep 11 - 06:55 AM (#3225460) Subject: RE: Origins: The Fall (in Guinness' Brewery) From: Fergie Hi Martin, Fergus Allen was the author. Luke Cheevers recited it at An Góilín on Friday. Luke has written additional stanzas which he has promised to bring to me at next Friday's opening of the Frank Harte Festival. I will post it here as soon as I have them. Fergus |
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19 Sep 11 - 06:56 AM (#3225461) Subject: RE: Origins: The Fall (in Guinness' Brewery) From: MartinRyan Thanks, Fergie - any idea who Fergus Allen was/is? Regards |
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19 Sep 11 - 07:03 AM (#3225465) Subject: RE: Origins: The Fall (in Guinness' Brewery) From: Fergie Hi Martin, I have a note somewhere, I'll check it out when I get home. Fergus |
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19 Sep 11 - 03:57 PM (#3225721) Subject: RE: Origins: The Fall (in Guinness' Brewery) From: GUEST Hi Martin, Just do a search under Fergus Allen, poet and you will find out all about him. The Brown Parrots of Providencia you mention was one of 4 books of his poetry. |
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19 Sep 11 - 06:43 PM (#3225806) Subject: RE: Origins: The Fall (in Guinness' Brewery) From: MartinRyan Thanks GUEST - Yes, I had done that once I had confirmation that he was the likely author. An Irish poet who lived mostly in England, as far as I can see. Doesn't appear in the Oxford Companion to Irish Literature - probably becaus he was only published late in life. Regards |
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20 Sep 11 - 03:17 AM (#3225939) Subject: RE: Origins: The Fall (in Guinness' Brewery) From: gnomad I never heard, or heard of, that before. Too long for my memory to cope with, but what fun. The tune to the Waterford Boys sprang unbidden to mind as I read it, so I reckon it could be sung or recited if only the grey cells were up to the job. |
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20 Sep 11 - 03:41 AM (#3225950) Subject: RE: Origins: The Fall (in Guinness' Brewery) From: MartinRyan Yeah - any good two part jig tune could be made fit, I reckon. As I read it, I hear The Humours of Whiskey in my head - which is not a million miles from The Waterford Boys! That said, I've only ever heard it done as a recitation. Regards |
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20 Sep 11 - 11:37 AM (#3226095) Subject: RE: Origins: The Fall (in Guinness' Brewery) From: Liberty Boy You're right Martin any two part jig will fit reasonably well! |
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20 Sep 11 - 02:38 PM (#3226180) Subject: RE: Origins: The Fall (in Guinness' Brewery) From: GUEST I actually sang that once to the air of Eamon an Cnuic, which I think suits it. |