Down Among the Dead Men
DESCRIPTION: "Here's a health to the king and a lasting peace, To faction an end, to wealth increase; Come, let's drink it while we have breath, For there's no drinking after death." The singer has no interest in those who will not enjoy themselves
AUTHOR: Words: John Dyer (1700-1758)? (source: Shay-BarroomBallads/PiousFriendsDrunkenCompanions, Wikipedia)
EARLIEST DATE: 1728 (The Dancing Master)
KEYWORDS: drink nonballad death
FOUND IN: US
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Chappell-PopularMusicOfTheOldenTime, pp. 643-644, "Down Among the Dead Men" (1 text, 1 tune)
Chappell/Wooldridge-OldEnglishPopularMusic II, pp. 173-174, "Down Among the Dead Men" (1 text, 1 tune)
Shay-BarroomBallads/PiousFriendsDrunkenCompanions, p. 55, "Down Among the Deat Men" (1 text)
DT, DEADMEN*
Roud #9623
SAME TUNE:
Come, Comrades, Come ("Come, comrades, come, your glasses clink; Up with your hands a health to drink -- The health of all that workers be") (Foner, p. 322)
File: SBar055
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