{"id":5179,"date":"2020-09-29T14:51:32","date_gmt":"2020-09-29T14:51:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=5179"},"modified":"2024-12-13T10:23:00","modified_gmt":"2024-12-13T10:23:00","slug":"convivial-man-the","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/convivial-man-the\/","title":{"rendered":"Convivial Man, The"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
AKA<\/strong><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
First Published<\/td> 1869<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Lyrics<\/strong><\/td>JB Geoghegan<\/td>Music<\/strong><\/td>J Batchelder<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RN:V13324<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>“Jolly” John Nash<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>none?<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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They tell me there's nothing like pleasure, \nTo keep honest fellows alive, \nSo I take lots of that at my leisure, \nAnd manage upon it to thrive. \nYou will find when the wine is before us. \nAnd harmony freely began, \nI'm an excellent hand at a chorus, \nAnd quite a convivial man. \n\nThen, ha' ha! ha I I merrily sing, \nGentlemen, follow my plan; \nWhatever may befall. I'm happy withal, \nFor I'm a convivial man. \n<\/em>\nIt's true that I am not over wealthy, \nAnd yet I have riches most rare; \nBeing happy, contented and healthy, \nAnd not overweighted with care. \nMy heart is as light as a feather, \nI find it an excellent plan, \nTo chirrup in all sorts of weather, \nI'm such a convivial man. \n\nI'm asked out to every dinner, \nInvited to parties and balls; \nThere's no fear of my getting thinner \nWhilst favored with these kind of calls. \nAt a pic-nic, a wedding, or christening, \nThey will have me there, if they can; \nAnd no one receives such a greeting, \nI'm such a convivial man.\n\nI cheer up the aged, God bless 'em! \nI frolic and play with the young; \nThey smile as I kindly address 'em, \nAnd laugh at my joke or my song. \nMy days are unclouded and sunny, \nI'm sought by each party and clan; \nOh, believe me, it's better than money To be a convivial man.\n\nThen long as I live I'll be merry, \nEnjoying the time as it flies; \nDrinking tea if I cannot get sherry, \nAnd always be merry and wise. \nI will warble and sing like a linnet, \nAnd since life is only a span, \nMake the most of the world whilst I'm in it, \nAnd be a convivial man.<\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
A song which has not, as far as I can see, entered traditional\/folk music – included here as part of the project looking into the songs of JB Geoghegan<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is listed as appearing in three different 19th-century songbooks. It was sung in the halls by ‘Jolly’ John Nash <\/a>at least a year before it was first published, in 1868 the composer was advertising himself in the trade newspaper:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Era, Mar 22, 1868<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Between 1860 and 1900 there are multiple instances in local newspapers of the song being sung by amateur singers in local social events throughout the British mainland. It seems reasonable to suggest that songs like this one would be in the repertoire of the singers that folksong collectors came across.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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