When Jones’s Ale Was New comes from the highly acclaimed traditional singer Simon McDonald of Creswick, from whom a whole feast of songs were collected back in the early 1960’s by Kath and Arthur Lumsden and Norm O’Connor. There is a book on Simon McDonald written by Hugh Anderson called Time Out Of Mind and is truly well worth reading if you can get hold of a copy. Martyn
WHEN JONES’S ALE WAS NEW. From the singing of Simon McDonald.
There were once three jovial fellows with lungs as blacksmith’s bellows
Came over the hills together to have a jovial spree
And they flung themselves down upon the ground
And each one swore they’d spend a pound
And they’d have glasses all around
When Jones’s ale was new me boys when Jones’s ale was new.
CHORUS
And they called for more pots and more pints and more glasses
And didn’t they all have fun with the lasses
And oh what fun they had with the lasses
When Jones’s ale was new me boys when Jones’s ale was new.
Now the first to come in was a tinker good Lord he was no drinker
Good Lord he was no drinker to join the jovial crew
And he said any pots or kettles to settle
Me tongs are made of the finest metal
Good Lord how his tongs began to rattle
When Jones’s ale was new me boys when Jones’s ale was new.
CHORUS
Now the next to come in was a mason with his hammer and chisel to face them
With his hammer and chisel to face them to join the jovial crew
And he flung his old hammer against the brick wall
And he swore that churches and chapels would fall
And that would give work to masons all
When Jones’s ale was new me boys when Jones’s ale was new.
CHORUS
Now the last to come in was barber who swore he came from Scarborough
He swore he came from Scarborough to join the jovial crew
And he flung his old razor against the brick wall
And swore that maids would shave and all
And that would give work to barbers all
When Jones’s ale was new me boys when Jones’s ale was new.