Lyrics of No churchman am i

No churchman am i
(robert burns)
I
No churchman am i for to rail and to write,
No statesman nor soldier to plot or to fight,
No sly man of business contriving a snare,
For a big-belly'd bottle's the whole of my care.
Ii
The peer i don't envy, i give him his bow;
I scorn not the peasant, tho' ever so low;
But a club of good fellows, like those that are here,
And a bottle like this, are my glory and care.
Iii
Here passes the squire on his brother-his horse;
There centum per centum, the cit with his purse;
But see you the crown how it waves in the air,
There a big-belly'd bottle still eases my care.
Iv
The wife of my bosom, alas! she did die;
For sweet consolation to church i did fly;
I found that old solomon proved it fair,
That a big-belly'd bottle's a cure for all care.
V
I once was persuaded a venture to make;
A letter inform'd me that all was to wreck;
But the pursy old landlord just waddl'd up stairs
With a glorious bottle that ended my cares.
Vi
Life's cares they are comforts, a maxim laid down
By the bard, what d'ye call him, that wore the black gown;
And faith i agree with the old prig to a hair;
For a big-belly'd bottle's a heaven o care.
A stanza added in a masonic lodge:
Then fill up a bumper and make it o'erflow,
And honours masonic prepare for to throw;
May every true brother of th' compass and square
Have a big belly'd bottle when harassd with care.
In iii, the crown refers to a tavern sign in mauchline, sporting the motto
Of sir j whiteford's arms, "d'en haut".
In vi, opening quote from young's night thoughts.
Tune: prepare, my dear brethern, to the tavern let's fly (27)
Filename( bigbotle
Arb
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