> Tim Hart & Maddy Prior > Songs > Bring Us in Good Ale
> The Young Tradition > Songs > Bring Us in Good Ale
> Shirley Collins > Songs > Bring Us in Good Ale
> Louis Killen > Songs > Good Ale

Bring Us in Good Ale

[ Roud 203 ; Ballad Index K273 ; trad.]

From Chapell, Popular Music of the Olden Time. Song from about 1460.

In 1969, The Young Tradition split up while recording their album of Christmas songs with Shirley and Dolly Collins, The Holly Bears the Crown; and it was only in 1995 that the album was finally released. One of the songs on this album is Bring Us in Good Ale.

Tim Hart and Maddy Prior sang Bring Us in Good Ale in 1971 on their third duo album Summer Solstice.

And Louis Killen recorded Good Ale in 1968 for his 1973 LP Sea Chanteys.

Lyrics

Tim Hart and Maddy Prior sing Bring Us in Good Ale

Bring us in no brown bread, for that is made of bran,
Nor bring us in no white bread, for therein is no grain,

Chorus (after each verse):

But bring us in good ale, good ale, and bring us in good ale,
For our blessed Lady's sake, bring us in good ale.

Bring us in no beef, for there are many bones,
But bring us in good ale, for that goeth down at once.

Bring us in no mutton, for that is seldom lean,
Nor bring us in no tripes, for they are seldom clean.

Bring us in no eggs, for there are many shells,
But bring us in good ale, and bring us nothing else.

Bring us in no capon's flesh, for that is often dear,
Nor bring us in no duck's flesh, for they slobber in the mire