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:

• 96. The Twelve Days of Christmas, p. 224
• 97. The Ten Commandments, p. 226
• 98. The Tree In The Wood, p. 230 [this page]
• 99. The Barley-Mow, p. 232
• 100. One Man Shall Mow My Meadow, p. 235

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