Sparkling cyder for me - a cider song from Devon.wmv

The words of this song were composed by James Olver of Launceston and were collected by Rev Sabine Baring-Gould over 100 years ago. However, the tune here is from the singing of Jim Causley who had his version of the song from John Shepherd, mayor of Whimple and reviver of their wassail-- inspired by the Whiteway's Cider works in the village. Best sung with a glass of Devon's finest in hand. Sung by Alan Rosevear by his apple trees in Exeter.

SPARKLING CYDER
In a nice little village not far from the sea
Still lives my old uncle aged eighty and three
Of orchards and meadows he owns a good lot
Such cyder as his not a farmer has got

Chorus
Then fill up the jug boys and let it go round
Of drinks none the equal of cyder is found
So pass round the jug boys and pull at it free
There's nothing like cyder, sparkling cyder for me

My uncle is lusty, is nimble and spry
As ribstones his cheeks, clear as crystal his eye
His head snowy white as the flowering May
And drinks only cyder by night and by day

O'er the wall in the churchyard the apple trees lean
And ripen their burdens red, yellow and green
In autumn the apples among the graves lie
There I'll sleep well says uncle when fated to die.

My heart like an apple sound juicy has been
My limbs and my trunk have been sturdy and clean
Uncankered I've thriven in heart and in head
So under the apple trees lay me when I'm dead.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• English
• traditional
• folk
• song
• unaccompanied
• Devon
• Baring-Gould
• drink
• cider
• apples