John C. Reilly: Fathom the Bowl

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wolfgpunkt
October 29, 2009

From: Rogues Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys, ANTI- 2006. Buy CD: http://www.amazon.com/Rogue... Explanatory liner notes by record label ANTI-: A classic drinking song from Colo...

From: Rogues Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys, ANTI- 2006.

Buy CD: http://www.amazon.com/Rogues-Gallery-...

Explanatory liner notes by record label ANTI-:

A classic drinking song from Colonial times. To "fathom" here means to test the depth. "Punch" was once synonymous with the modern "mixed drink". Sailors used to view it as an absolute daily entitlement. The grog ration in Nelson's time contained nearly 12 ounces of rum by modern measure, daily.

Wikipedia about the song:

"Fathom the Bowl" is an English Drinking song, probably dating from the nineteenth century. The ingredients of punch include expensive spirits, too expensive for ordinary people. This has led to the suggestion that the song would be sung by smugglers. This might place it in the late eighteenth century or early nineteenth century. It might also explain the dead man at the bottom of the sea. On the other hand it might a song sung by wealthy middle-class young gentlemen or military officers, which gradually made its way down the social ladder. The use of the word "fathom" is the lesser used verb form, to measure the depth of something. This would rarely be used by non-sailors, which may also be taken to imply something about the lyricist.
The fact that the early versions are almost identical to current versions implies that it has been valued for the simplicity of the words. It is also very compact in geographical spread. Almost all collected version are from the south of England, and none were collected outside England.
The song implies a camaraderie with all those who hear the song and is ideal for singing in a chorus. Appropriately, there is a beer made by the brewery called "West Berkshire" called "Fathom the Bowl". The earliest printed broadside are Such (London, between 1863 and 1885), Fortey (London, between 1858 and 1885), Hedges (London) and Pitts (London). The song was published in 1891 in a songbook, "English Folk Songs" by William Alexander Barrett. It was collected by Baring-Gould, Cecil Sharp (1907) and George Gardiner (Hampshire 1906). There is almost no variation in the text. It is also known as "The Punch Ladle" or "Bowl Bowl".

The artist in Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._...

Image: Cashboxx: wash away what I've done, December 31, 2007
http://cashboxx.deviantart.com/art/wa...

Lyrics and annotations:
http://ismaels.wordpress.com/2009/10/...

This is a private video for documentary reasons. There is no copyright infringement intended. Please do not use sounds and visuals unless you are their owner.

Category: Music

Tags:

siren sound sea sailor girl bride woman vintage ballad shanty drinking booze halyard chantey rum bottle pool

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John C. Reilly: Fathom the Bowl

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