This is a ridiculous song, but occasionally works brilliantly.
It is a tongue-twister, which we sing to check our memory cells still vibrate aright.
It is a celebration of all things pub, from the company to the handful of ale.
We often wonder where the brown bowl can be found. Most pubs won’t lend out their pewter tankards ("they're dirty/decorative") for supping a pint.
The last verse praises the ‘company’. This means the people and beasts around us - but today it also means the business which owns the pub.
The pub company represents the false-quest for constant growth and increased profits. It represents inflated property values and corresponding rent increases. The company’s logo should be a shut pub, to symbolize centuries of tradition being pissed up the stock exchange wall.
But yes, traditions need pruning, to make sure they're still vital.
So here's good luck to the Barley Mow.
lyrics
Here’s good luck to the pint pot, good luck to the barley mow,
Jolly good luck to the pint pot, good luck to the barley mow,
O the pint-pot, half-a-pint, gill-pot, half-a-gill,
quarter-gill, nipperkin, and the brown bowl,
Here’s good luck, good luck, good luck to the barley mow.
O the company, brewer, the barmaid, landlady, landlord, barrel, the half-barrel, bushel, the half-bushel, gallon, the half-gallon, pint-pot, half-a-pint, gill-pot, half-a-gill, quarter gill, nipperkin and the brown bowl...
Here’s good luck, good luck, good luck to the barley mow.
this is one of the most beautiful collections of music I've heard in a very long time. every song draws your attention - don't plan on doing anything else while you listen. more please 🙏 kimmcb
I usually haaaate autotune voices, but done this way it's brilliant. When enough craftsmanship is used. Hard to pick a favourite from this great album. One of my favourites of the year! soundofperpetualastonishment
Combining original and traditional tunes on this release, Jim Ghedi has somehow escaped my notice until now. His stirring vocals, guitars and the harmonium, are supported by a quintet on double bass, violin, drums and percussion, as well as trumpet and flugelhorn. The lyrics are primarily dark, mostly focusing on social injustice and land inequity, and are passionately delivered by Jim’s expressive voice Nickie Harte Kelly