No Churchman am I

(Robert Burns)



I

No Churchman am I for to rail and to write,

No Statesman nor Soldier to plot or to fight,

No sly Man of business contriving a snare,

For a big-belly'd bottle's the whole of my care.



II

The Peer I don't envy, I give him his bow;

I scorn not the Peasant, tho' ever so low;

But a club of good fellows, like those that are here,

And a bottle like this, are my glory and care.



III

Here passes the Squire on his brother-his horse;

There Centum per Centum, the Cit with his purse;

But see you the Crown how it waves in the air,

There a big-belly'd bottle still eases my care.



IV

The wife of my bosom, alas! she did die;

For sweet consolation to church I did fly;

I found that old Solomon proved it fair,

That a big-belly'd bottle's a cure for all care.



V

I once was persuaded a venture to make;

A letter inform'd me that all was to wreck;

But the pursy old landlord just waddl'd up stairs

With a glorious bottle that ended my cares.



VI

Life's cares they are comforts, a maxim laid down

By the Bard, what d'ye call him, that wore the black gown;

And faith I agree with the old prig to a hair;

For a big-belly'd bottle's a heaven o care.



A Stanza added in a Masonic Lodge:



Then fill up a bumper and make it o'erflow,

And honours masonic prepare for to throw;

May every true brother of th' compass and square

Have a big belly'd bottle when harassd with care.



In III, the crown refers to a tavern sign in Mauchline, sporting the motto

of Sir J Whiteford's arms, "D'en Haut".

In VI, opening quote from Young's Night Thoughts.



@Scots @drink

Tune: Prepare, my dear brethern, to the tavern let's fly (27)

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