> A.L. Lloyd > Songs > Rosin the Beau
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Rosin the Beau / Rosin the Bow

[ Roud 1192 ; Master title: Rosin the Beau ; G/D 3:698 ; Henry H698 ; Ballad Index R846 ; Bodleian Roud 1192 ; Wiltshire 973 ; trad.]

A.L. Lloyd sang Rosin the Beau in 1956 on the Riverside album English Drinking Songs, which was reissued on CD on the Topic label in 1998. He commented in the liner notes:

Who was old Rosin the Beau? Some rustic rake of the 18^th century, it is supposed. In any case, the airy old tough has scattered his children everywhere, and among the younger of these—in both words and tune—is the well known Wrap Me Up in My Tarpaulin Jacket. In America the tune is the best known to the words of Acres of Clams.

The Clancy Brothers with Louis Killen sang Rosin the Bow in 1973 on their album Greatest Hits.

Walter Pardon sang Rosin-a-Beau on his 1983 album on the Home-Made Music label, Bright Golden Store.

Lyrics

A.L. Lloyd sings Rosin the Beau

I’ve travelled this wide world over
And now to another I’ll go,
For I know that good quarters are waiting
To welcome old Rosin the Beau.
To welcome old Rosin the Beau,
To welcome old Rosin the Beau,
For I know that good quarters are waiting
To welcome old Rosin the Beau.

When I’m dead and laid out on the counter
A voice you will hear from below
Crying, “Send down a hogshead of whisky
To drink to old Rosin the Beau.
To drink to old Rosin the Beau,
To drink to old Rosin the Beau,”
Crying, “Send down a hogshead of whisky
To drink to old Rosin the Beau.”

And when I have drunk my last skinful
The ladies will want to, I know,
Just lift off the lid of my coffin, take
A last look at Rosin the Beau.
A last look at Rosin the Beau,
A last look at Rosin the Beau,
Just lift off the lid of my coffin and take
A last look at Rosin the Beau.

Then get a full dozen stout fellows
And prop them all up in a row,
And drink out of half gallon bottles
To the memory of Rosin the Beau.
To the memory of Rosin the Beau,
To the memory of Rosin the Beau,
And drink out of half gallon bottles
To the memory of Rosin the Beau.

Then get a half dozen fellows
And let them all stagger and go,
And dig a great hole in the meadow
And in it throw Rosin the Beau.
And in it throw Rosin the Beau,
And in it throw Rosin the Beau,
And dig a great hole in the meadow
And in it throw Rosin the Beau.

Then get you a couple of bottles,
Put one at my head and my toe,
With a diamond ring scratch upon them
The name of old Rosin the Beau.
The name of old Rosin the Beau,
The name of old Rosin the Beau,
With a diamond ring scratch upon them
The name of old Rosin the Beau.

I feel that great tyrant approaching,
That cruel remorseless old foe,
And I lift up my glass in his honour,
Take a drink with old Rosin the Beau.
Take a drink with old Rosin the Beau,
Take a drink with old Rosin the Beau,
And I lift up my glass in his honour,
Take a drink with old Rosin the Beau.