by John Collings Squire, Sir (1884 - 1958)
At Martinmas, when I was born
Language: English
At Martinmas, when I was born, Hey diddle, ho diddle do. There came a cow with a crumpled horn, Hey diddle, ho diddle do. She stood agape and said, "My dear, you're a very fine child for this time of year, And I think you'll have a taste in beer!" Hey diddle, ho diddle ho do do da. Hey diddle, ho diddle do. A taste in beer I've certainly got. Hey diddle, ho diddle do. A very fine taste that the Jews have not. Hey diddle, ho diddle do. And though I travel on the hills of Spain, And Val-Pont-Côte and Belle Fontaine, With lusty lungs I shall still maintain. Hey diddle, ho diddle ho do do da. Hey diddle, ho diddle do. So Sussex men, wherever you be, Hey diddle, ho diddle do. I pray you sing this song with me. Hey diddle, ho diddle do. That of all the shires she is the queen, And they brew at the "Chequers" on Chanctonbury Green The very best beer that ever was seen. Hey, Dominus, Domine, Dominum, Domini, Hey, diddle, diddle, Domino.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by John Collings Squire, Sir (1884 - 1958), "Mr. H. Belloc", appears in Tricks of the Trade, first published 1917 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Peter Warlock (1894 - 1930), "Mr. Belloc's Fancy", 1921, published 1922 [ tenor or baritone and piano ], from Two True Toper's Tunes to Troll with Trulls and Trollops in a Tavern, no. 2 [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 27
Word count: 182