In Praise of Whisky
Sunday, December 20, 2015 at 10:43PM
Embryo Parson in Anglicans, Alcohol and Smoke

Written in the 1690s.  If you don't love whiskey or the English language as it used to be spoken and sung, you have no soul.  ;>)  Lyrics below. 

"Come, and doe not musing stand
if thou the truth discerne
But take a full cup in thy hand,
and thus begin to learne-
Not of the earth, nor of the ayre,
at evening or at morne-
But joviall boyes your Christmas keep,
with the little Barly-Corne.

"Twill make a weeping widow laugh,
and soon incline to pleasure;
"Twill make an old man leave his staffe,
and dance a youthfull measure:
And though your clothes be ne'er so bad,
or ragged, rent and torne,
Against the cold you may be clad
with the little Barly-Corne.

"Twill make a miser prodigall,
and shew himself kind hearted;
"Twill make him never grieve at all,
that from his coyne hath parted;
"Twill make a shepherd to mistake
his sheepe before a storme;
"Twill make the poet to excel;
this little Barley-Corne.

"It is the neatest serving man
to entertain a friend;
It will doe more than money can
all jarring suits to end;
There's life in it, and it is here,
'tis here within this cup,
Then take your liquor, doe not spare,
but cleare carouse it up.

Article originally appeared on theoldjamestownchurch (http://www.oldjamestownchurch.com/).
See website for complete article licensing information.