It seem there are at least two versions of this song. The one I had remembered is the more modern one...it was sung on one of the Walton shows way back when. I also heard the
Clancy Brothers
version on
Come Fill Your Glass with Us.
I have a copy of that somewhere. It is one of the old songs everyone can sing along with.
This is the version I remember:
I've traveled all over this world
And now to another I go
And I know that good quarters are waiting
To welcome old Rosin the Bow
To welcome old Rosin the Bow
To welcome old Rosin the Bow
And I know that good quarters are waiting
To welcome old Rosin the Bow.
When I'm dead and laid out on the counter
A voice you will hear from below
Saying "Send down a hogshead of whiskey
To drink with old Rosin the Bow"
To drink with old Rosin the Bow"
To drink with old Rosin the Bow"
Saying "Send down a hogshead of whiskey
To drink with old Rosin the Bow".
Then get a half dozen stout fellows
And stack them all up in a row
Let them drink out of half gallon bottles
To the memory of Rosin the Bow
To the memory of Rosin the Bow
To the memory of Rosin the Bow
Let them drink out of half gallon bottles
To the memory of Rosin the Bow.
Then get this half dozen stout fellows
And let them all stagger and go
And dig a great hole in the meadow
And in it put Rosin the Bow
And in it put Rosin the Bow
And in it put Rosin the Bow
And dig a great hole in the meadow
And in it put Rosin the Bow.
Then get ye a couple of bottles
Put one at me head and me toe
With a diamond ring scratch upon them
The name of old Rosin the Bow
The name of old Rosin the Bow
The name of old Rosin the Bow
With a diamond ring scratch upon them
The name of old Rosin the Bow.
I've only this one consolation
As out of this world I go
I know that the next generation
Will resemble old Rosin the Bow
Will resemble old Rosin the Bow
Will resemble old Rosin the Bow
I know that the next generation
Will resemble old Rosin the Bow.
I fear that old tyrant approaching
That cruel remorseless old foe
And I lift up me glass in his honor
Take a drink with old Rosin the Bow
Take a drink with old Rosin the Bow
Take a drink with old Rosin the Bow
And I lift up me glass in his honor
Take a drink with old Rosin the Bow.
This is the original folk song:
I've always been cheerful and easy,
And scarce have I needed a foe.
While some after money run crazy,
I merrily Rosin'd the Bow.
Some youngsters were panting for fashions,
Some new kick seemed now all the go,
But having no turbulent passions,
My motto was "Rosin the Bow."
So kindly my parents besought me,
No longer a roving to go,
And friends whom I thought had forgot me,
With gladness met Rosin the Bow.
My young day I spent all in roving,
But never was vicious, no, no;
But somehow I loved to keep moving,
And cheerfully Rosin'd the Bow.
In country or city, no matter,
Too often I never could go,
My presence all sadness would scatter,
So cheerful was Rosin the Bow.
The old people always grew merry,
Young faces with pleasure did glow,
While lips with the red of cherry,
Sipped "bliss to old Rosin the Bow."
While sweetly I played on my viol,
In measures so soft and so slow,
Old Time stopped the shade on the dial,
To listen to Rosin the Bow.
And peacefully now I am sinking,
From all this sweet world can bestow,
But Heaven's kind mercy I'm thinking,
Provides for old Rosin the Bow.
Now soon some still Sunday morning,
The first thing the neighbors will know,
Their ears will be met with the warning,
To bury old Rosin the Bow.
My friends will then so neatly dress me,
In linen as white as the snow,
And in my new coffin they'll press me,
And whisper "poor Rosin the Bow."
Then lone with my head on the pillow,
In peace I'll be sleeping below,
The grass and the breeze shaken willow,
That waves over Rosin the Bow.
I think I actually like the lyrics of the old folk song better. It might not be as fun to sing though as the newer drinking song.
