Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TAVERN SONG, by WILLIAM WATSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: When winterly weather doth pierce to the skin Last Line: And ho! For a tankard of ale at the inn. Alternate Author Name(s): Watson, John William Subject(s): Bars & Bartenders; Drinks & Drinking; Singing & Singers; Pubs; Taverns; Saloons; Wine | ||||||||
I WHEN winterly weather doth pierce to the skin, Then hey! for a bottle of wine from the bin; And hey! for a tankard, and ho! for a tankard, Sing ho! for a tankard of ale at the inn. It's hey! for a bottle, it's ho! for a bottle, Sing ho! for a bottle of wine from the bin; And it's hey! for a tankard, it's ho! for a tankard, Sing ho! for a tankard of ale at the inn. II The squire's at the Hall with his kith and his kin; He'll drink like a hero till daylight begin, With hey! for a bottle, with ho! for a bottle, A mellow old bottle of wine from the bin. Sing hey! for a bottle, a mellow old bottle, Sing ho! for a bottle of wine from the bin, And sing hey! for a tankard, a right flowing tankard, Sing ho! for a tankard of ale at the inn. III The parson, God bless him, he says it's no sin, When winterly weather hath made the blood thin, To toss off a tankard, to toss off a tankard, To toss off a tankard of ale at the inn. So it's hey! for a bottle, a bottle, a bottle, It's ho! for a bottle of wine from the bin, And it's hey! for a tankard, a heart-easing tankard, It's ho! for a tankard of ale at the inn. IV For duns and the devil he cares not a pin Who is rich in a bottle of wine from his bin, And the cream of all wisdom is quaffed from a tankard, A heart-easing tankard of ale at the inn. Then hey! for a bottle, a mellow old bottle, Then ho! for a bottle of wine from the bin, And hey! for a tankard, a fair foaming tankard, And ho! for a tankard of ale at the inn. V The lads must have lasses and woo them and win, And the business of wives is to bake and to spin, But men love a tankard, but men love a tankard, But men love a tankard of ale at the inn. Then hey! for a bottle, then ho! for a bottle, Sing ho! for a bottle of wine from the bin, And it's hey! for a tankard, a tankard, a tankard, And ho! for a tankard of ale at the inn. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A CUP OF TREMBLINGS by JOHN HOLLANDER VINTAGE ABSENCE by JOHN HOLLANDER SENT WITH A BOTTLE OF BURGUNDY FOR A BIRTHDAY by JOHN HOLLANDER TO A CIVIL SERVANT by EDMUND JOHN ARMSTRONG WINE by FRIEDRICH MARTIN VON BODENSTEDT THE GOOD FELLOW by ALEXANDER BROME |
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