1. |
John Barleycorn
02:34
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2. |
The Bloody Brother
02:09
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3. |
Dido, Bendigo
02:44
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4. |
Sober Bestiary
01:44
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5. |
The King
01:33
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6. |
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7. |
Rolling Home
03:34
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8. |
The Black Fox
03:06
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9. |
Hicks' Farewell
01:19
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10. |
I Can Hew
02:41
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11. |
Van Dieman's Land
02:46
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12. |
The Sailor's Prayer
03:06
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13. |
The Brave Dudley Boys
02:51
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Chorus:
In the days of good Queen Bess,
Yah-boys-o!
In the days of good Queen Bess,
Yah-boys-o!
In the days of Good Queen Bess,
Coventry out-done the rest.
Yah, boys. Oh, boys.
Oh, the Brave Dudley Boys!
But in the times as be,
We outdone Coventry.
Chorus:
Tippin lads they did us join,
And we formed a strong combine.
Chorus:
We marched into town,
Resolved to tear the housin' down.
Chorus:
Times they were mighty queer,
And victual it was very dear.
Chorus:
So for to make corn cheap,
We burned 'em all of an 'eap.
Chorus:
But the work was scarce begun,
When soldiers come and spoiled the fun.
Chorus:
We all run down our pits,
Frit most out of our wits.
Chorus:
God bless Lord Dudley Ward,
He knowed as times been hard.
Chorus:
He called back the soldier men,
And we'll never riot again.
Chorus:
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14. |
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1) O how happy's he, who from business free
Can enjoy his mistress, bottle and his friend.
Not confined to state, nor the affairs of the great,
Only on himself, not others doth depend.
Change can never vex him, faction ne'er perplex him,
If the world goes well, a bumper crowns his joys.
If it be not so, then he takes of two,
'Til succeeding glasses thinking doth destroy.
2) When his noddle reels, he to Celia steals,
And by pleasure unconfined runs oe'r the night.
In the morning wakes, a pleasing farewell takes,
Ready for fresh tippling and for new delights.
When his table's full, O then he hugs his soul, and
Drinking all their healths, a welcome doth express.
When the cloth's removed, then by all approved,
Comes the full Grace Cup, Queen Anna's good success.
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15. |
The Rigs Of The Times
02:36
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1) Now it’s of an old butcher, I must bring him in,
Gets two shillings a pound, and he thinks it no sin.
Claps his thumb on the steelyards to make them go down.
He swears it’s good weight though it lacks half a pound.
Chorus:
Singing, Honesty’s all out of fashion.
These are the rigs of the times, times my boys,
These are the rigs of the times.
2) Now the next is the baker, I must bring him in,
Charges fourpence a loaf, and he thinks it no sin.
When he do bring it in, it’s no bigger than your fist,
For the top of the loaf is left stuck to the dish.
3) See the new farmers’ daughters as they ride up and down,
It’s no wonder that butter’s a shilling a pound.
If you ask them the reason, they’ll explain with a sigh,
There’s a war on in France, so our cows have gone dry.
4) And the next is the publican, I must bring him in,
Charges fourpence a quart, and he thinks it no sin.
When he do bring it in, why, the measure is short,
For the top of the pot is propped up with the froth.
5) Now I’ve thought it all o’er, the best plan I can find,
Is to catch them all up in a great gust of wind.
When they reach the cloud tops there the clouds they will burst,
And the meanest old bugger come tumbling down first.
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16. |
Non Barleycorn
02:14
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1) Non Barleycorn, so I've been told, is good as any beer.
Contains no harmful substances, and it won't make you feel queer.
For it contains no alcohol, or calories to waste (waist?)
No color and no smell at all. No head. No fizz. No taste.
Chorus:
Hey, Non Barleycorn! Ho, Non Barleycorn!
Won't do anything at all.
Non Barleycorn.
2) Now it will not make you happy, and it won't give you a low.
Won't pick you up or bring you down, but through you it will go.
When you've had six you'll feel the same as if you'd just had one.
And when the party's over you won't know if you've had fun.
3) So do not scorn this noble (sic) brew, but to me now pay heed.
Non Barleycorn will serve you well in any time of need.
For when you're out of beer and wine, and vinegar and ink,
And petrol, piss, and turpentine....Non Beer's the stuff to drink!
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17. |
A Tree Song
02:27
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1) Of all the trees that grow so fair, old England to adorn,
Greater are none, beneath the sun, than Oak and Ash and Thorn.
Sing Oak, and Ash, and Thorn good sirs,
All of a mid-summer morn,
Surely we sing no little thing in Oak, and Ash, and Thorn.
2) Oak of the clay lived many a day
Or ever Aeneas began
Ash of the loam was a lady at home
When Brut was an outlaw man.
Thorn of the down saw new Troy town
From which was London born.
Witness hereby the ancientry
Of Oak and Ash and Thorn.
3) Yew that is old in churchyard mold,
He breedeth a mighty bow.
Alder for shoes do wise men choose
And beech for cups also.
But when you have killed, and your bowl it is spilled,
And your shoes are clean outworn,
Back you must speed, for all that you need,
To Oak, and Ash, and Thorn.
4) The Ellum she hateth mankind, and waiteth
Til every gust be laid,
To drop a limb on the head of him
That any way trusts her shade.
But whether a lad be sober or sad,
Or mellow with ale from the horn,
He’ll take no wrong when he lieth along
‘Neath Oak, and Ash, and Thorn.
5) Oh do not tell the priest our plight
For he would think it a sin
But we have been out in the woods all night
A-conjuring summer in
And we bring you news by word of mouth
Good news for cattle and corn
Now is the sun come up from the South
With Oak and Ash and Thorn.
Sing Oak, and Ash, and Thorn good sirs,
All of a mid-summer morn,
England shall bide ‘til Judgment tide,
By Oak and Ash and Thorn.
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18. |
Fear No More
03:12
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Fear no more the heat o’ the sun,
Nor the furious winter’s rages;
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages:
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.
Fear no more the frown o’ the great;
Thou art past the tyrant’s stroke;
Care no more to clothe and eat;
To thee the reed is as the oak:
The scepter, learning, physic, must
All follow this, and come to dust.
Fear no more the lightning flash,
Nor the all-dreaded thunder stone;
Fear not slander, censure rash;
Thou hast finished joy and moan:
All lovers young, all lovers must
Consign to thee, and come to dust.
No exorciser harm thee!
Nor no witchcraft charm thee!
Ghost unlaid forbear thee!
Nothing ill come near thee!
Quiet consummation have;
And renownèd be thy grave!
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19. |
Staines Morris
02:15
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1. Come you young men, come along
With your music, dance and song
Bring your lasses in your hands
For ‘tis that which love commands
Chorus: Then to the Maypole, haste away,
For ‘tis now our holiday.
Then to the Maypole, haste away,
For ‘tis now our holiday.
2. ‘Tis the choice time of the year
And the violets now appear
And the rose receives its birth
And the pretty primrose decks the earth.
3. When you thus well reckoned have
What kisses you your sweetheart gave
Take them all again and more
It will never make them poor.
4. When you thus have spent your time
And the day be past its prime
To your beds repair at night
And dream there of your day’s delight.
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20. |
It's Not Yet Day
03:22
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1) The silver moon that shines so bright,
I swear with reason is my teacher,
And if my midnight glass runs right,
There’s time to drink another pitcher.
Chorus:
It’s not yet day, it’s not yet day,
Why should we forsake good liquor?
Until the sunbeams round us play,
Let’s joke and push about the pitcher.
2) I dearly love a hearty man,
No sniggering, milksop Jimmy Twitcher,
That loves a lass, and loves a glass,
And loudly calls for another pitcher.
3) They say that we must work all day,
And sleep at night to wake much richer.
But what is all the world does say,
Compared to mirth, my friend, and pitcher?
4) A man may boast a handsome wife,
Yet strange vagaries may bewitch her.
Unvexed I’ll lead a cheerful life,
And boldly call for t’other pitcher.
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21. |
Benjamin Bowmaneer
02:32
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1) Do you know how the wars began, Benjamin Bowmaneer?
Do you know how the wars began, castors away?
Do you know how the wars began,
When England fought to a man?
And the proud tailor went prancing away.
2) Of his shear board he made a horse, Benjamin Bowmaneer.
Of his shear board he made a horse, castors away
Of his shear board he made a horse,
All for him to ride across.
And the proud tailor went prancing away.
3) Of his scissors he made bridle bits, Benjamin Bowmaneer.
Of his scissors he made bridle bits, castors away
Of his scissors he made bridle bits
To keep the horse all in his wits.
And the proud tailor went prancing away.
4) And as he rode o'er the lea, Benjamin Bowmaneer.
And as he rode o'er the lea, castors away
And as he rode o'er the lea
He spied a flea all on his knee.
And the proud tailor went prancing away.
5) Of his needle he made a spear, Benjamin Bowmaneer.
Of his needle he made a spear, castors away.
Of his needle he made a spear,
And prick’d the flea all in its ear.
And the proud tailor went prancing away.
6) Of his thimble he made a bell, Benjamin Bowmaneer.
Of his thimble he made a bell, castors away.
Of his thimble he made a bell,
To toll the flea's funeral knell.
And the proud tailor went prancing away.
7) And that's how the wars began, Benjamin Bowmaneer.
And that's how the wars began, castors away.
And that's how the wars began,
When England fought to a man.
And the proud tailor went prancing away.
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22. |
Thanks and Intro
01:16
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23. |
Tom O' Bedlam
03:13
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1. For to see Mad Tom of Bedlam
Ten thousand miles I traveled
Mad Maudlin goes on dirty toes
For to save her shoes from gravel
Chorus: Still I sing bonny boys, bonny mad boys
Bedlam boys are bonny
For they all go bare and they live by the air
And they want no drink nor money
2. I went down to Satan’s kitchen
For to get me food one morning
And there I got souls piping hot
All on the spit a-turning
3. My staff has murdered giants
My bag a long knife carries
For to cut mince pies from children’s thighs
And feed them to the fairies
4. The spirits white as lightening
Would on me travels guide me
The stars would shake and the moon would quake
Whenever they espied me
5. And when that I’ll be murdering
The Man in the Moon to a powder
His staff I’ll break, his dog I’ll shake
And there’ll howl no demon louder
6. For to see Mad Tom of Bedlam,
Ten thousand years I traveled
Mad Maudlin goes on dirty toes
For to save her shoes from gravel
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24. |
The Barley Mow
01:07
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1. Here’s good luck to the pint pot
CH: Good luck to the Barley Mow
Jolly good luck to the pint pot
CH: Good luck to the Barley Mow
Chorus: Here’s the pint pot, half-a-pint, gill pot, half-a-gill, quarter-gill, nipperkin,
and the brown bowl
Here’s good luck, good luck to the Barley Mow.
2. Here’s good luck to the quart pot
Jolly good luck to the quart pot
Chorus: Here’s the Quart pot, pint pot, half-a-pint, gill pot, half-a-gill, quarter-gill, nipperkin,
and the brown bowl
Here’s good luck, good luck to the Barley Mow.
The song proceeds in the usual manner for cumulative songs, each verse adding one element.
The final chorus is:
Here’s the Company, the slavey, the drayer, the brewer, the daughter, the landlady, landlord, the Barrel, the half-barrel, Gallon, the half-gallon, Quart pot, pint pot, half-a-pint, gill pot, half-a-gill, quarter-gill, nipperkin, and the brown bowl
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Oak Ash & Thorn Oakland, California
Oak Ash & Thorn--OAT for short--are an a capella singing group who draw their repertoire primarily from English Traditional
music. We also sing British Music Hall, American, Scottish, Irish Folk, TV Jingles, Babylonian Beer Hymns.
We have been a persistent fixture of the SF Bay Area folk scene since the early '70s thru 2014. Our audiences come to sing and drink along with us over 3 generations.
... more
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