The Leather Bottel





'Twas God above that made all things

The heav'ns, the earth, and all therein *

The ships that on the sea do swim

To guard from foes that none come in.

And let them all do what they can

'Twas for one end - the use of Man

So I wish in heaven his soul may dwell

That first found out the leather bottel.





Now, what do you say to these cans of wood?

Oh no, in faith, they cannot be good

For if the bearer fall by the way

Why, on the ground your liquor doth lay;

But had it been in a leather bottel

Although he had fallen, all would be well

So I wish etc.





Then what do you say to these glasses fine?

Oh, they shall have no praise of mine

For if you chance to touch the brim

Down dalls the liquor and all therein;

But had it been in a leather bottel

And the stopple in, all would be well,

So I wish etc.





Then what do you say to these black pots three?

If a man and his wife should disagree

Why they'll tug and they'll pull till their liquor doth spill

In a leather bottel they may tug their fill.

And pull away till their hearts do ache

And yet the liquor no harm can take

So I wish etc.

Then what do you say to these flagons fine?

Oh, they shall have no praise of mine

For when a Lord is about to dine

He sends them to be filled with wine,

The man with the flagons doth run away

Because they are silver most gallant and gay

So I wish etc.

















A leather bottel we know is good

Far better than glasses or cans of wood

For when a man's at work in the field

You glasses and pots no comfort will yield;

But a good leather bottel standingh by

Will raise his spirits, whenever he's dry

So I wish etc.



At noon, the haymakers sit them down

To drink from their bottles of ale, nut-brown;

In summer, too, when the weather is warm

A good bottle full will do them no harm.

Then the lads and the lasses begin to tattle

But what would they do without this bottle?

So I wish etc.



There's never a Lord, an Earl, or Knight,

But in this bottle doth take delight

For when he's hunting of the deer

He oft doth wish for a bottle of beer;

Likewise the man that works in the wood

A bottle beer will oft do him good

So I wish etc.



And when the leather bottel grows old

And will good liquor no longer hold,

Out of its side you may make a clout

To mend your shoes when they're worn out;

Or take it and hang it up on a pin

'Twill do to put hinges and odd things in

So I wish etc.



From Popular Music of the Olden Time, Chappell.

Note: According to Chappell, earliest printed sources date this at

least as far back as reign of Charles II, though Chapelle feels

that it's probably contemporary with Chaucer.

* For better or for worse, I first heard the two opening lines as:

"When I survey the world around,

The wondrous things that do abound" --RG

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