Beg pardon, sir, but is an ox-cart resting on my head?
The dirt beneath my cheek tells me I never found the bed.
It's not a pretty thing greets me on opening my eyes,
I liked the taste when it went down, but now it's drawing flies.
Though last night I was bottomless, it feels now like I've burst!
They all talk of my drinking, but never of my thirst!
One morning I awoke, and though I couldn't kneel or stand,
An old man's crossbow let me know my wedding was at hand.
I'd lain down with a comely lass much sweeter than a grape,
But I'd mistook for flavor what turned out to be her shape.
I'm not the last to drink I loved her, and I warn't the first!
She tells them of my drinking, but never of my thirst!
Last week I saw a man whose visage brought to mind a louse,
Much like the lord upon whose land I rent my leaky house!
"My friend", I cried, "I'd like a word," and in his face I spit.
"I don't care that there's three of you, the middle I can hit!"
I've lost my home, I've lost two teeth, it seems that I'm accurst!
Now he talks of my drinking, but never of my thirst!
When will I learn, they ask? How often must I do me harm?
"It must be fifty times—but still, a fifth might be the charm!"
So then they ask what ails me, and have I lost my mind?
I say, "An ale is just the thing, if you would be so kind!"
Of all the sots they've ever met, they swear that I'm the worst!
They all talk of my drinking, but never of my thirst!
Whene'er a trickle I do hear, my lips are ready-pursed!
They all talk of my drinking, but never of my thirst!
When I was born, they argue on what sort of milk I nursed!
They all talk of my drinking, but never of my thirst!
If you've a cask or vat, beware! You might find me immersed!
Then you'll talk of my drinking, but never of my thirst!
They all talk of my drinking, but never of my thirst!
credits
from Hidden Gold,
released June 20, 2015
Music, lyrics, vocals: Eric Schrager
Arrangement: Eric Schrager, Dave Lambert
Guitar, mandolin: Dave Lambert
Additional vocals: The My Thirst Pub Singers
(Nuri Olsen, Peter Olsen, Michael Dixon, Laurie Begnaud, Dave Lambert, Monique Bouchard, Alix Evans, Neil Fein, Carlos Vigil)
Drake Oranwood (Eric Schrager, he/him) is a singer, songwriter, producer, lutenist, and medieval / renaissance enthusiast
who brings modern sensibilities to original songs set long ago and far away.
In the Society for Creative Anachronism, Drake is part of the bardic community, where original and period performances are shared at fire circles and waysides for weary travelers....more
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