Come all you honest labouring men that work hard all the day,
And join with me at the Barley Mow to pass an hour away,
Where we can sing and drink and be merry,
And drive away all our cares and worry,
When Jones's ale was new, my boys, when Jones's ale was new.

The first to come in was the Ploughman with sweat all on his brow,
Up with the lark at the break of day he guides the speedy plough,
He drives his team, how they do toil,
O'er hill and valley to turn the soil,
When Jones's ale was new, my boys, when Jones's ale was new.

The next to come was the Blacksmith his brawny arms all bare,
And with his pint of Jones's ale he has no fear or care,
Throughout the day his hammer he's swinging,
And he sings when he hears the anvil ringing,
When Jones's ale was new, my boys, when Jones's ale was new.

The next to come in was the Scytheman so cheerful and so brown,
And with the rhythm of his scythe the corn he does mow down,
He works, he mows, he sweats and he blows.
And he leaves his swathes laying all in rows,
When Jones's ale was new, my boys, when Jones's ale was new.

The next to come in was the Tinker and he was no small beer drinker
And he was no small beer drinker to join the jovial crew,
He told the old woman he'd mend her old kettle,
Good Lord how his hammer and tongs did rattle,
When Jones's ale was new, my boys, when Jones's ale was new.

Now here is Jones our Landlord a jovial man is he,
Likewise his wife a buxom lass who joins in harmony,
We wish them happiness and good will
While our pots and glasses they do fill,
When Jones's ale was new, my boys, when Jones's ale was new.

abc | midi | pdf

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Source: Bob Copper, A Song For Every Season, CopperSongs, 1971

Notes:
From Jim Copper's songbook. See The Copper Family website.

Roud: 139 (Search Roud index at VWML) Take Six
Laws:
Child: