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. VI 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 mottoof Sir J Whiteford's arms, "D'en Haut".
In VI, opening quote from Young's Night Thoughts.
Tune: Prepare, my dear brethern, to the tavern let's fly (27)filename
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