The Prophets

In the first book of Job, which I now mean to quote, At the fifth and sixth verses you'll find it thus wrote; So Moses invited the Prophets to dine, And drink a few bottles of gooseberry wine. Derry Down.

Then Moses was plac'd in the chair in a trice, And Aron his crony deputed his vice, When the glass moving quick, and the wine moving strong, Moses swore they should'nt stir till they each sang a song. Derry Down.

Some looked askew, which Moses well saw, But what Moses said, why you know sir was law, Nay, he frankly declar'd, that should any decline, He'd fine them a bumper of gooseberry wine. Derry Down.

Little David, it seems, sir, first was the choice, For they very well knew he'd an excellent voice; He declar'd he could'nt sing, they swore 'twas a thumper, And poor little Davy was fin'd in a bumper. Derry Down.

Rear admiral Noah, whom much has been said of, And his jaunt on the water, which we all have read of, Not liking their gooseberry, call'd for a dram, Then gave them this song, which he sang to young Ham. Derry Down.

"And bearing up to gain the port, "Some well known object kept in view, "A beacon-tow'r, or harbor fort, "Which e'er the flood old Noah knew; "Whilst oft the lead young Japhet flung, "And to his watchful father sung "By the mark seven!"

Ezekiel rose next, sir, a very great smoaker, But in lighting his pipe, burnt his nose with the poker; Being skilful in music, and proud of his voice, With exquisite fancy this song was his choice. Derry Down.

"Why Mosy, why Aron, my boys, "I'm glad I have met with you here, "For Zeky, as all of you knows, "Is fond of a drap of good beer; "If you mean for to pass all the night, "Why say such our purpose intends, "And faith we will have a good bout, "For I loves a full pot with my friends."

Then Solomon rose, sir, all in his glory, And said he'd much rather tell them a story; But the cry against that was a great deal too strong, For they would have nothing but Solomon's song. Derry Down.

"I've kiss'd and I've prattled with fifty fair maids "And chang'd them as oft as you see, "But of all the Fair maidens that sport on the green, "Queen Sheba's the girl for me; "Queen Sheba's the girl, &c.

Next Habbakuk rose, for they took them in course, But Habbakuk's cold made Habbakuk hoarse; He declar'd he could'nt sing any more than the moon, But if Moses pleas'd, he'd whistle a tune. Derry Down.

Jeremiah rose next, sir, at Moses' desire, (Whom wine, wit, or woman could never inspire) And in strains that would suit the last conflagration, He sung then a verse of his own lamentation. Derry Down.

"I sigh and lament me in vain, "These walls do but echo my moan, "Alas! it increases my pain, "When I think of the days that are gone.

"Thro the grate of my prison I see, "The boys at marbles they play, "I cry and exclaim out, ah me, "I once could play better than they."

Then up rose little Jonah, who look'd like a jelly, For he had just come, sir, from the whale's belly, For three days and three nights, he was left to despair, But he'd sing to Moses what he suffered there. Derry Down.

"Cease rude Boreas, blust'ring railer, "List ye landsmen all to me, "Messmates hear a brother whaler, "Sing the dangers of the sea; "In the horrid belly pent, sir, "Think on what I suffer'd there, "Fore'd to keep a dismal lent, sir, "And to breathe infectious air, "Nought but fish to feed upon sir, "And compell'd to eat it raw, "Ev'ry hope was nearly gone, sir, "Ere I left the monster's maw.!'

Then Sampson rose next, once in prowess so big, But at that time friend Sampson had just lost his wig; He lamented most loudly his dire mishap, How his wife shav'd his head as he slept in her lap. Derry Down.

"O dear! what can the matter be! "Dear! Dear! what can the matter be! "Dear oh! what can the mrtter be! "Sampson has lost all his hair! "Oh! that I ere should have taken so sound a nap! "Oh! that I e'er should have taken it in her lap! "Oh! that I had but ty'd on my red night cap! "Then Sampson had not lost his hair!"

They next call'd on Job, as a song was his fort, And they begg'd, as 'twas late, his song might be short; But he sung chevy chace to a dismal psalm tune, Which the Prophets all thot would have lasted till noon. Derry Down.

Now Moses, who always very good hours kept, As they sat a singing, why he sat and slept, Till wak'd by the noise of their calling encore, He bade them get home for they should'nt drink more. Derry Down.

Well bred Aron, it seems sir, at this took offence, And said "Want of good manners was want of good sense;" This caus'd a dispute, some reflections were cast, But for decency's sake we'll not mention what past. Derry Down.