DRINKING DIRGE
A thousandyears ago I used to dineIn houses where they gave me such regaleOf dear companionship and comrades fineThat out I went alone beyond the pale;And riding, laughed and dared the skies malignTo show me all the undiscovered tale—But my philosophy’s no more divine,I put my pleasure in a pint of ale.And you, my friends, oh! pleasant friends of mine,Who leave me now alone, without avail,On Californian hills you gave me wine,You gave me cider-drink in Longuevaille;If after many years you come to pineFor comradeship that is an ancient tale—You’ll find me drinking beer in Dead Man’s Chine.I put my pleasure in a pint of ale.In many a briny boat I’ve tried the brine,From many a hidden harbour I’ve set sail,Steering towards the sunset where there shineThe distant amethystine islands pale.There are no ports beyond the far sea-line,Nor any halloa to meet the mariner’s hail;I stand at home and slip the anchor-line.I put my pleasure in a pint of ale.ENVOIPrince! Is it true when you go out to dineYou bring your bottle in a freezing pail?Why then you cannot be a friend of mine.Iput my pleasure in a pint of ale.
A thousandyears ago I used to dineIn houses where they gave me such regaleOf dear companionship and comrades fineThat out I went alone beyond the pale;And riding, laughed and dared the skies malignTo show me all the undiscovered tale—But my philosophy’s no more divine,I put my pleasure in a pint of ale.And you, my friends, oh! pleasant friends of mine,Who leave me now alone, without avail,On Californian hills you gave me wine,You gave me cider-drink in Longuevaille;If after many years you come to pineFor comradeship that is an ancient tale—You’ll find me drinking beer in Dead Man’s Chine.I put my pleasure in a pint of ale.In many a briny boat I’ve tried the brine,From many a hidden harbour I’ve set sail,Steering towards the sunset where there shineThe distant amethystine islands pale.There are no ports beyond the far sea-line,Nor any halloa to meet the mariner’s hail;I stand at home and slip the anchor-line.I put my pleasure in a pint of ale.ENVOIPrince! Is it true when you go out to dineYou bring your bottle in a freezing pail?Why then you cannot be a friend of mine.Iput my pleasure in a pint of ale.
A thousandyears ago I used to dineIn houses where they gave me such regaleOf dear companionship and comrades fineThat out I went alone beyond the pale;And riding, laughed and dared the skies malignTo show me all the undiscovered tale—But my philosophy’s no more divine,I put my pleasure in a pint of ale.
A thousandyears ago I used to dine
In houses where they gave me such regale
Of dear companionship and comrades fine
That out I went alone beyond the pale;
And riding, laughed and dared the skies malign
To show me all the undiscovered tale—
But my philosophy’s no more divine,
I put my pleasure in a pint of ale.
And you, my friends, oh! pleasant friends of mine,Who leave me now alone, without avail,On Californian hills you gave me wine,You gave me cider-drink in Longuevaille;If after many years you come to pineFor comradeship that is an ancient tale—You’ll find me drinking beer in Dead Man’s Chine.I put my pleasure in a pint of ale.
And you, my friends, oh! pleasant friends of mine,
Who leave me now alone, without avail,
On Californian hills you gave me wine,
You gave me cider-drink in Longuevaille;
If after many years you come to pine
For comradeship that is an ancient tale—
You’ll find me drinking beer in Dead Man’s Chine.
I put my pleasure in a pint of ale.
In many a briny boat I’ve tried the brine,From many a hidden harbour I’ve set sail,Steering towards the sunset where there shineThe distant amethystine islands pale.There are no ports beyond the far sea-line,Nor any halloa to meet the mariner’s hail;I stand at home and slip the anchor-line.I put my pleasure in a pint of ale.
In many a briny boat I’ve tried the brine,
From many a hidden harbour I’ve set sail,
Steering towards the sunset where there shine
The distant amethystine islands pale.
There are no ports beyond the far sea-line,
Nor any halloa to meet the mariner’s hail;
I stand at home and slip the anchor-line.
I put my pleasure in a pint of ale.
ENVOI
Prince! Is it true when you go out to dineYou bring your bottle in a freezing pail?Why then you cannot be a friend of mine.Iput my pleasure in a pint of ale.
Prince! Is it true when you go out to dine
You bring your bottle in a freezing pail?
Why then you cannot be a friend of mine.
Iput my pleasure in a pint of ale.