Just in time for St. Patrick's day, this month's tab is a 4-part arrangement of the traditional Irish melody "Old Rosin the Beau", which was first appeared in print in 1778

                * Old Rosin the Beau*

                I've roamed this whole world all over,
                And now to the next I will go,
                I know that good quarters await me,
                To welcome Old Rosin the Beau.
                To welcome Old Rosin the Beau,
                To welcome Old Rosin the Beau,
                I know that good quarters await me,
                To welcome Old Rosin the Beau.

                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 to Old Rosin the Beau."
                To drink to Old Rosin the Beau
                To drink to Old Rosin the Beau
                Saying "Send down a hogshead of whiskey
                To drink to Old Rosin the Beau."

                Then get a half-dozen stout fellows
                And stack 'em all up in a row
                Let 'em drink out of half-gallon bottles
                To the memory of Rosin the Beau.
                (etc.)

                Then get this half-dozen stout fellows
                And let them all stagger and go
                And dig a great hole in the meadow
                And put in Old Rosin the Beau.
                (etc.)

                Then get ye a couple of bottles,
                Put one at me head and me toe,
                With a diamond ring scratch upon them
                “To the Memory of Rosin the Beau.”
                (etc.)

                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 Beau."
                (etc.)

This arrangement includes a "basic melody" (fretted on the middle string only while the bass and melody strings provide drone accompanianment; a "bass harmony", which is primarly off the bass string; a chord/melody style part; and an upper octave harmony. So gather a few dulcimer playing friends and head on down to your local Irish pub!

The original words classified the tune as a hearty Irish drinking song, but the melody has been recycled many times with different sets of lyrics. Among these are "Self-Employed Worker", "Liberty Ball", "Paddle My Own Canoe", "Old Settler's Song (aka "Acres of Clams"), "Men of the West", "He's the Man for Me", "Catalpa", and "Acres of Apples".

In the 1840's, during the height of the Temperance Movement in this country, a new set of lyrics were paired with the melody of the popular drinking song to promote a different set of values:

                        * The Washington Badge* (1843)

                        Come join in our temperance army,
                        And put on the Washington badge;
                        I'm sure that it never will harm you
                        To give in your name to the pledge.
                        We've done with our days of carousing,
                        Our nights, too, of frolicsome glee;
                        For now with our sober minds choosing,
                        We've pledged ourselves never to spree.


In 1860, it was used for Abraham Lincoln's campaign song:

                        * Lincoln and Liberty*

                        Hurrah for the choice of the nation
                        Our chieftain so brave and so true;
                        We'll go for the great reformation,
                        For Lincoln and liberty too!
                        We'll go for the son of Kentucky,
                        The hero of Hoosierdom through.
                        The pride of the "Suckers" so lucky,
                        For Lincoln and liberty too!

Perhaps the most ironic use of the original drinking song was the request by Rev. Benjamin Sawyer to have it used to accompany the verses of a Sacred Harp hymn he had composed on his deathbed. It came to be known as "Sawyer's Exit."

                        * Sawyer's Exit* (1859)

                        How bright is the day when the Christian
                        Receives the sweet message to come,
                        To rise to the mansions of glory,
                        And be there forever at home.
                        And be there forever at home,
                        And be there forever at home,
                        To rise to the mansions of glory,
                        And be there forever at home.

                        The angels stand ready and waiting
                        The moment the spirit is gone
                        To carry it upward to heaven
                        And welcome it safely at home.
                        And welcome it safely at home,
                        And welcome it safely at home,
                        To carry it upward to heaven
                        And welcome it safely at home.

                        The saints that have gone up before us
                        All raise a new shout as we come
                        And sing hallelujah the louder
                        To welcome the travelers home.
                        (etc.)

                        And there are our friends and companions
                        Escaped from the evil to come
                        And crowding the gates of fair Zion
                        To wait our arrival at home.
                        (etc.)

                        And there is the blessed Redeemer
                        So mild on his merciful throne
                        With hearts and hands widely extended
                        To welcome his ransom'd ones home.
                        (etc.)

                        Then let us go onward rejoicing
                        Till Jesus invites us to come
                        To share in his glorious kingdom
                        And rest in his bosom at home.
                        (etc.)

          Cheers,
                        --Tull

             Tull Glazener      http://www.tullglazener.com     Indianapolis, IN