Dear friend, this brown jug (Anonymous)

Music files

L E G E N D

Disclaimer

How to download

ICON	SOURCE
	Web Page
	File details
	Help

• (Posted 2025-11-02)  CPDL #87297: 

Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2025-11-02).   Score information: A4, 1 page, 63 kB   Copyright: CC BY SA

Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.

General Information

Title: Dear friend, this brown jug
Composer: Anonymous
Lyricist:
Number of voices: 3vv   Voicing: TTB
Genre: Secular, Glee

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: c.1790
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

Dear friend, this brown jug that now foams with mild ale,
In which we now drink to sweet Nan of the vale,
Was once Toby Filpot, a thirsty old soul
As e'er drain'd a bottle or fathom'd a bowl.
In boozing about, 'twas his boast to excel,
And among jolly topers he bore off the belle.

It chanc'd, as in dog-days he sat at his ease,
In his flow'r-woven arbour, as gay as you please,
With a friend and a pipe, puffing sorrow away,
And with honest old stingo was soaking his clay;
His breath doors of life on a sudden were shut,
And he died full as big as a Dorchester butt.

His body, when long in the ground it had lain,
And time into clay had resolv'd it again,
A potter found out in its covert so smug
And with part of fat Toby he form'd this brown jug:.
Now sacred to friendship and mirth and mild ale
So here's to the lovely sweet Nan of the vale.