The Little Vagabond - Greg Brown

Dear mother, dear mother, the Church is cold;

But the Alehouse is healthy, and pleasant, and warm

Besides, I can tell where I am used well;

Such usage in heaven will never do well

But, if at the Church they would give us some ale

And a pleasant fire our souls to regale

We’d sing and we’d pray all the livelong day

Nor ever once wish from the Church to stray

Then the Parson might preach, and drink, and sing

And we’d be as happy as birds in the spring;

And modest Dame Lurch, who is always at church

Would not have bandy children, nor fasting, nor birch

And God, like a father, rejoicing to see

His children as pleasant and happy as He

Would have no more quarrel with the Devil or the barrel

But kiss him, and give him both drink and apparel