Title: American Old Time Song Lyrics
Subject: Traditional & Folk Music
Author: www.traditionalmusic.co.uk
Keywords: Old time music, American, oldtimey, bluegrass

Shingling The Rum-seller's Roof - song lyrics 
American Old-time song lyrics from www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
Shingling the Rum-Seller's Roof. Copyright, 1894, by Andrew Lagerquist. Words by Rev. Robert Whitaker Music by Andrew Lagerquist. 
One night a poor wretch in a wayside saloon, Who lingered half-drunken about, Heard the voice of the rum-seller's wife, as she said, "Go, put yonder drunken fool out." The ruin-seller laughed as he shrewdly replied, In tones that would brook no reproof, "Let him stay if he will, he is doing no harm-The fellow Is shingling our roof." 
Chorus. Are you shingling the rum-seller's roof Are you shingling the rum-seller's roof While your own house decays, Are you spending your days In shingling the rum-seller's roof 
The months passed away, but he came not again, The rum-seller noted with pain; And seeking him out with hospitable air, He begged his "old friend "to explain. "You want me to visit again your saloon, And ask why I linger aloof? With thanks for your kindness, allow me to say, Because I am shingling my roof." - Chorus. 
Ye men who are shingling the rum-seller's roof By robbing yourselves and your own, Remember the winter of life draweth nigh, And soon will the summer have flown; 'Twill little avail in the day of God's wrath To offer high heaven the proof That your house is now desolate only because You've shingled some rum-seller's roof.- Chorus. 
And woe to the man with the rum-seller's heart, Who covers himself at the cost Of manhood and womanhood, marred and despoiled-Whose gain is that others are lost. In the day when his house shall fall in on himself The weight of his sins shall have proof: When the lost whom he ruined shall crush him and cry, "We shingled the rum-seller's roof." - Chorus.