'ARF A PINT OF ALE
(Charles Tempest 1905)

as recorded by Gus Elen
1906


I hate those chaps what talks about the things what they like to drink,
Such as tea and coffee, cocoa and milk, the fings I never fink!
I'm plain in me 'abits and I'm plain in me food, and what I says is this;
That the man what drinks such rubbish with 'is meals, well, I always gives 'im a miss!

Now for breakfast I never think of 'aving tea, I likes me 'arf a pint of ale,
For me dinner I likes a little bit o' meat, and a 'arf a pint of ale.
For me tea I likes a little bit o' fish, an' an 'arf a pint of ale,
And for supper I likes a crust o' bread and cheese, and a pint and an 'arf of ale!

Now this is 'ow I looks at it, and I think you'll agree with me,
I've never seen a man get drunk in me life on cocoa, coffee or tea!
Do ya think I'd pay one and eight a pound for tea, why, the thought makes me feel
queer,
When I think of what you'd get for another one and six, such a pretty little barrel
o' beer!

Now for breakfast I never think of 'aving tea, I likes me 'arf a pint of ale,
For me dinner I likes a little bit o' meat, and a 'arf a pint of ale.
For me tea I likes a little bit o' fish, and 'arf a pint of ale,
And for supper I likes a crust o' bread and cheese, and a galling and an 'arf of ale!

Now for breakfast I never fink of 'aving tea, I likes me 'arf a pint of ale,
For me dinner I likes a little bit o' meat, and a 'arf a pint of ale.
For me tea I likes a little bit o' fish, an' an 'arf a pint of ale,
And for supper I likes a crust o' bread and cheese, and a barrel and an 'arf of ale!




(Transcribed by Peter Akers - January 2017)