DON'T STOP MY 'ALF A PINT O' BEER


as recorded by Gus Elen
1911


Now I'm a chap what's moderate in all I 'as to drink,
And if it's wrong, well tell me what is right,
'Cause if you says it's wrong, well there you're just like Lizzie Ann
When I proposed to her one Sunday night.
It was just after closing time, she'd come to take me 'ome,
And her words, they made me think of suicide!
When she said, "If we get spliced then you must not drink beer again!",
I went down on me marrer bones and cried;

"Oh don't stop me 'alf a pint o' beer,
It's the only thing that's keeping me alive!
I don't mind yer stoppin' all me coffee and me tea,
But 'alf a pint o' beer a day is medicine to me!
I shan't want no other luxuries,
Such as champagne and whiskey, never fear!
If yer want to see me 'appy and contented all me life,
Don't stop me 'alf a pint o' beer!".

Your 'umble once got into nasty trouble with the p'lice,
Which brought me notoriety and fame!
A kind and simple gentleman asked me to change a cheque
Which bore a high and mighty big pot's name.
When I got the gentleman the cash, your 'umble got a stretch,
And soon into the prison I was led.
But when the warders told me 'twas a temperance hotel,
I turned round to the governor and said;

"Oh don't stop me 'alf a pint o' beer,
Oh it's the only thing that's keepin' me alive!
Oh I don't mind stoppin' off the skilly and the tea,
But 'alf a pint o' beer a day is medicine to me!
I shan't want no other luxuries
And I shan't want no wages while I'm 'ere.
I don't mind the five years, I can do it on me 'ead
But don't stop me 'alf a pint o' beer!".

"Oh don't stop me 'alf a pint o' beer,
It's the only thing that's keepin' me alive!
I don't mind the stoppin' of the coffee and the tea,
'Alf a pint o' beer a day is medicine to me!
I shan't want no other luxuries
And I shan't want no wages while I'm 'ere.
I don't mind the five year, I can do it on me 'ead
But don't stop me 'alf a pint o' beer!".




(Transcribed by Peter Akers - March 2016)