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The Barley Mow

from Songs by Ed, Will and Ginger

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about

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.

ADD ON ONE MEASURE PER VERSE:

Half-gallon, gallon, half-bushel, bushel, half-barrel, barrel, landlord, landlady, barmaid, brewer, company.

FOR THE CHORUS, COUNT THEM ALL DOWN BACKWARDS.

Final chorus:

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.

credits

from Songs, released January 1, 2010

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A Walk Around Britain UK

Wayfaring songs from journeys on foot around Britain.

With Ed, Will & Ginger. And others.

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