THERE IS A TAVERN IN THE TOWN (THE DRUNKARD SONG)
(19th Century Traditional English Folk Song -
Based on the Cornish miners' song "There is an Alehouse in Yonder Town" -
College Anthem of Trinity University College, Carmarthen, Wales)
Rudy Vallee & His Connecticut Yankees - 1934
Harry McDaniel & His Orch. - 1934
Bar-X Cowboys - 1938
Gracie Fields (feat. in the film "We're Going To Be Rich") - 1938
The Tavern Polka Band - 1950
Wally Cox - 1953
Frank Luther - 1953
The Four Aces - 1954
Six Fat Dutchmen - 1955
The Coronets - 1956
The London Community Singers - 1956
Mitch Miller & The Gang - 1958
Burl Ives - 1959
Don Costa's Free Loaders - 1959
Connie Francis & The Jordanaires - 1961
"Big" Tiny Little Feat. Josephine - 1962
Dolore Whiteman & The Flanagans - 1965
The Tony Hendrik Five - 1968
There is a tavern in the town, in the town
And there my dear love sits him down, sits him down
And drinks his wine 'mid laughter free
And never, never thinks of me
Fare thee well, for I must leave thee
Do not let the parting grieve thee
And remember that the best of friends must part, must part
So until another meeting
When you hear my friendly greeting
I will always keep your memory in my heart, my heart
Adieu, adieu kind friends, adieu, adieu, adieu
I can no longer stay with you, stay with you
I'll hang my harp on the weeping willow tree
And may the world go well with thee
He left me for a damsel dark, damsel dark
Each Friday night they used to spark, used to spark
And now my love who once was true to me
Takes this dark damsel on his knee
Fare thee well, for I must leave thee
Do not let the parting grieve thee
And remember that the best of friends must part, must part
So until another meeting
When you hear my friendly greeting
I will always keep your memory in my heart, my heart
Adieu, adieu kind friends, adieu, adieu, adieu
I can no longer stay with you, stay with you
I'll hang my harp on the weeping willow tree
And may the world go well with thee
And now I see him nevermore, nevermore
He never knocks upon my door, on my door
Oh, woe is me; he pinned a little note
And these were all the words he wrote
Fare thee well, for I must leave thee
Do not let the parting grieve thee
And remember that the best of friends must part, must part
So until another meeting
When you hear my friendly greeting
I will always keep your memory in my heart, my heart
Adieu, adieu kind friends, adieu, adieu, adieu
I can no longer stay with you, stay with you
I'll hang my harp on the weeping willow tree
And may the world go well with thee
Oh, dig my grave both wide and deep, wide and deep
Put tombstones at my head and feet, head and feet
And on my breast carve a turtle dove
To signify I died for love
Fare thee well, for I must leave thee
Do not let the parting grieve thee
And remember that the best of friends must part, must part
So until another meeting
When you hear my friendly greeting
I will always keep your memory in my heart, my heart
Adieu, adieu kind friends, adieu, adieu, adieu,
I can no longer stay with you, stay with you,
I'll hang my harp on the weeping willow tree,
And may the world go well with thee
********************
As recorded by RUDY VALLEE
& His Connecticut Yankees, 7th September 1934:
There is a tavern in the town (In the town)
And there my true love sits him down (Sits him down)
Ho-ho, And drinks his wine as merry as can be
And never, never thinks of me
Fare thee well, for I must leave thee
Do not let the parting grieve thee
Oh, the time has come for you and I to say "Goodbye"
Adieu, adieu kind friends, adieu (Yes, adieu)
I can no longer stay with you (Stay with you)
Oh-ho, I'll hang my harp on a weeping willow tree
Fare the well, fare thee well, fare thee well
He left me for a damsel dark (Damsel dark)
Each Friday night they used to spark (Used to spark)
Ho-ho, and now my love, who once was true to me
Takes that dark damsel on his knee
Fare thee well, for I must leave thee
Do not let the parting grieve thee
Oh, the time is come for you and I to say "Goodbye"
Adieu, adieu kind friends, adieu (Yes, adieu)
Oh, I can no longer stay with you (Stay with you)
Oh-ho, I'll hang my harp on a weeping willow tree
Fare the well, fare thee well, fare thee well
And now I see him nevermore (Nevermore)
He never, never knocks at my door (At my door)
Oh-ho, woe is me, he penned a little note
I'll read to you the words he wrote
Fare thee well, for I must leave thee
Do not let the parting grieve thee
Oh, the time is come for you and I to say "Goodbye"
Adieu, adieu kind friends, adieu (Yes, adieu)
Oh, I can no longer stay with you (Stay with you)
Oh-ho, I'll hang my harp on a weeping willow tree
Fare the well, fare thee well, fare thee well
Oh, dig my grave both wide and deep (Wide and deep)
Put tombstones at my head and feet (Head and feet)
Ho-ho, and on my breast just carve a turtle dove
To signify I died for love
Fare thee well, for I must leave thee
Do not let the parting grieve thee
Oh, the time is come for you and I to say "Goodbye"
Adieu, adieu kind friends, adieu (Yes, adieu)
Oh, I can no longer stay wit'cher (Stay with wit'cher)
Ho-ho, I'll hang my harp on a weeping willow tree
Fare the well, fare thee well, fare thee well
*********************
As recorded by CONNIE FRANCIS & THE JORDANAIRES:
(Bom-bom-bom-bom)
(Bom-bom-bom-bom)
(Bom-bom-bom-bom)
There is a tavern in the town, in the town
There my true love can be found, can be found
And his heart is filled with laughter gay and free
And he thinks of me
Fare thee well, for I must leave thee
Do not let the parting grieve thee
And remember that the best of friends
Must part, must part
Adieu, adieu my friends, adieu, yes adieu
I can no longer stay with you, stay with you
I will hang my harp on a weeping willow tree
And may the world go well with thee
(Bom-bom-bom-bom)
(Bom-bom-bom-bom)
(Bom-bom-bom-bom)
Dig my grave both wide and deep, wide and deep
Put tombstones at my head and feet, head and feet
On my tombstone carve a pretty turtle dove
To signify I died of love
Fare thee well, for I must leave thee
Do not let the parting grieve thee
And remember that the best of friends
Must part, must part
Adieu, adieu my friends, adieu, yes adieu
I can no longer stay with you, stay with you
I will hang my harp on a weeping willow tree
And may the world go well with thee
(Doo-Wah!)
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - May 2017)
