Name: Let Your Back and Sides go Bare
Duration: P00H03M11S
Description: An upbeat traditional drinking song, containing a number of phrases often heard in Wassail songs from the 17th century. A good chorus song.

Let Your Back and Sides go Bare

from Green to Gold by Moonrakers

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about

An upbeat traditional drinking song, containing a number of phrases often heard in Wassail songs from the 17th century. A good chorus song.

lyrics

I’d rather be a beggar than a king
I’ll tell you the reason why:
A king cannot swagger or walk like a beggar
Or be half so happy as I.
Let your back and sides go bare, me boys
Your hands and your feet grow cold.
But give to your belly, boys, beer enough
Whether it be new or old.
Whether it be new or old

I’ve sixpence sitting in me pocket,
And I begged very hard for that
There isn’t anybody who can offer me work
While I hold out my begging hat.

Now there’s a nobleman’s hall
We can beg for bread and beer.
We’ll pretend to be lame, or pretend to be blind
Or much too deaf too hear.

We can lie like hogs in a sty
Frost and snow on the ground
We’ll eat a crust that’s rolled in the dust
And be thankful for what we found.

credits

from Green to Gold, released May 27, 2023
Traditional, arranged Moonrakers

license

about

Moonrakers Oxford, UK

Described as “startlingly talented” (Oxford Times) and now with five albums of "exquisite music "(BBC) and "truly wonderful" (Wycombe Festival) performances, Moonrakers present an informal evening of musical excellence and humour.

moonrakers.net

discography

Green to Gold

May 2023
Ebb & Flow

Mar 2020
Tides

Jan 2019
Silken Thread

Aug 2017

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