The Barley Mow

 

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!
Here’s the pint pot, half a pint, jill-pot, half a jill, quarter-jill,
nipperkin and a brown bowl!

Here’s good luck , good luck,
Good luck to the Barley Mow!

Nyah, nyah, nyah!

accumulating thusly

Here’s a good luck to the quart pot…

– the half gallon
– the gallon
– the half barrel
– the barrel
– the landlord
– the landlady
– the daughter
– brewer
– the drayer*
– the slavie

Here’s good luck to the Company
Good luck to the Barley Mow!
jolly good luck to the Company
Good luck to the Barley Mow!
Here’s the slavie, the drayer, the brewer, the daughter, the landlady, the landlord, the barrel, the half-barrel, the gallon, the half-gallon, the pint pot, half a pint, jill-pot, half a jill, quarter-jill, nipperkin and a brown bowl!

Here’s good luck , good luck,
Good luck to the Barley Mow!

 

*What is a drayer? A drayer is one who pulls a cart, known as a dray. This cart is low, sturdy, without sides, and is used to carry heavy loads. Originally, the the cart had no wheels, and was rather like a sledge or sled. This sled would have to be “dragged” or “drayed” along the ground, either by horse or by the drayer himself. The drayer could have carried any load, and can be viewed as the equivalent of the modern day supply delivery man. A popular occupation for a “Drayer” was to bring beer and spirits to the local bars/pubs. This can be noted in the song “The Barley Mow”, which pays homage to “The Drayer” in one of its many versus. [With thanks to “Stuntdoctor” at – https://wiki.answers.com/Q/User:Stuntdoctor]