From The musical repository, pp100-2, 1799.

listen to the tune (midi file)

THE TANKARD OF ALE.

 Not drunk, nor yet sober, but brother to both,
 I met a young man upon Aylesbery vale,
 I saw by his force that he was in good case
 To come and take share of a tankard of ale,
 la ral la la la ra la la 
 la ra la la ra la la ra la la
 I saw by his face that he was in good case
 To come and take share of a tankard of ale.
 
 The hedger who works in the ditches all day,
 And labours so very hard at the plough tail,
 He'll talk of great things, about princes and kings,
 When once he shakes hands with a tankard of ale.
 
 The beggar that begs without any legs,
 She's scarce got a rag to cover her tail,
 Yet's as merry with rags as a miser with bags,
 When once she shakes hands with a tankard of ale.
 
 The widow that buried her husband of late,
 She's scarcely forgotten to weep or to wail,
 But thinks every day ten till she's married again,
 When once she shakes hands with a tankard of ale. 
 
 The old parish vicar, when he's in his liquor,
 Will merrily at his parishioners rail,
 Come pay all your tithes, or I'll kiss all your wives,
 When once he shakes hands with a tankard of ale.
 
 The old parish clerk, with his eyes in the dark,
 And letter so small that he scarcely can tell,
 He'll read every letter, and sing the psalms better,
 When once he shakes hands with a tankard of ale.
 
 If wrangling and jangling, or any such strife,
 Or any things else may happen to fall,
 From words turn to blows and a sharp bloody nose,
 We're friends again over a tankard of ale.