The Barley-Mow
A Counting Song
See:
The Twelve Days of Christmas (Cecil J. Sharp, 1916, with notes)
See:
Notes on the Twelve Days of Christmas
Source: Cecil J. Sharp, One Hundred English Folksongs (Boston: Oliver Ditson Company, 1916), #99, pp. 232-234.
Solo. 1. O I will drink out of the nipperkin, boys;
Chorus. So here's a good health to the barley mow.
The nipperkin and the brown bowl.
So here's a good health to the barley mom.
2. O I will drink out of the pint, my boys;
So here's a good health to the barley mow.
The pint, the nipperkin and the brown bowl.
So here's a good health to the barley mom.
3. O I will drink out of the quart, my boys;
So here's a good health to the barley mow.
The quart, the pint, the nipperkin and the brown bowl.
So here's a good health to the barley mom.
The song proceeds after the usual manner of cumulative songs, an additional measure being added to each verse. The last verse runs as follows;—
12. O I will drink out of the clouds, my boys;
So here's a good health to the barley mow.
The clouds, the ocean, the sea, the river, the well, the tub, the
but, the hogshead, the keg-, the gallon, the quart, the
pint, the nipperkin and the brown bowl.
So here's a good health to the barley mom.
Source: Cecil J. Sharp, One Hundred English Folksongs (Boston: Oliver Ditson Company, 1916), #99, pp. 232-234.
Note:
This is one of five "accumulative" songs printed by Mr. Sharp in this volume. The five are:
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