Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 2

Ancient Songs, Ballads, & Dance Tunes, Sheet Music & Lyrics - online book

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REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE TO GEORGE II.
671
He that drinks small beer, and goes to bed sober, Falls, as the leaves do, that die in October.
But he that drinks all day, and goes to bed mellow, Lives as he ought to do, and dies a hearty fellow.
A MAY-DAY DANCE.
From the second volume of The Dancing Master.
After the year 1717, the celebrations of May-day in London were limited to the dances of milkmaids (described ante p. 282, and in Hone's Every-day Book, i. 570), and to the Jack-in-the-green of the sweeps.
The great May-pole in the Strand (which stood close to the site of the church of St. Mary-le-Strand) was given to Sir Isaac Newton in 1717, and removed to Wanstead, where it was used in raising the largest telescope then known. (Pennant's London!)
COUNTRY COURTSHIP.
The tune of Country Courtship is contained in the third volume of The Dancing Master, in the third volume of Walsh's New Country Dancing Master, and in many later publications. It is in common use at the present time.
The first part is nearly the same as There was an old feUow at Waltham Crossy which was sung to the tune of In Taunton Dean (see p. 262). It is also curious that the words of In Taunton Dean, being in eight line stanzas, do not suit the version of the tune In Taunton Dean as printed in the ballad-operas of Mora and The Jovial Crew so well as this, because they require the repetition of the four bars.
Some copies of Country Courtship differ in the second part. Having printed it one way in the National English Airs, I now adopt the other, which is better