Come hither, my lads, with your tankards of ale
And drink to the present before it shall fail;
Pile each on your platters a mountain of beef
For 'tis eating and drinking that bring us relief:
So fill up your glass, For life will soon pass;
When you're dead ye'll ne'er drink to your king or your lass!
Anacreon had a red nose, so they say
But what's a red nose if ye're happy and gay?
Gad split me! I'd rather be red whilst I'm here
Than white as a lily -and dead half a year!
So Betty my miss, Come give me a kiss;
In hell there's no inkeeper's daughter like this!
Young Harry, propp'd up just as straight as he's able
Will soon lose his wig and slip under the table
But fill up your goblets and pass 'em around-
Better under the table than under the ground!
So revel and chaff As ye thirstily quaff:
Under six feet of dirt 'tis less easy to laugh!
The fiend strike me blue! I'm scarce able to walk
And damn me if I can't stand upright or talk!
Here, landlord, bid Betty to summon a chair;
I'll try home for a while, for my wife is not there!
So lend me a hand I'm not able to stand
But I'm gay whilst I linger on top of the land!
(I spiked his drink)