A goodfellowes complaint against strong beere,
OR
Take heed goodfellowes for heere you may see
How it is strong beere that hath undone me.
To the Tune of a day will come shall pay for all.
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A LL you good fellowes who love strong beere,
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In time be warned the same to flee
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For I can make it plaine appeare
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How tis strong beare that has undon me.
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I bid all company to keepe,
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Which was my downfall now I see
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For povertie on mee doth creepe,
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And tis strong beerre that has undon mee.
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I once enjoyed both house and land,
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But now t'is otherwise you see,
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My moneys spent my cloathes are pawnd:
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And tis strong beere that has undone mee.
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Now I have wasted my estate,
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Which was enough to maintaine three,
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Ime faine to live at an under rate,
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For this strong beere that has undone me.
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O how it greeves my hart to thinke,
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That they who had my money free.
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Now I am poore from me they shrinke,
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O how this strong beere has undone me.
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When I had coin enough to spend,
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Among good fellowes who but me,
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Then each one strove to be my friend:
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Until strong beere had undon me.
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Now all is gone and nothing left,
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It is not as it was wont to be,
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Of all my friends I am bereft,
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O thus strong beere has undon me.
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For now my company thy shunne,
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And where I come away they flee,
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Which makes me sing this heavy tune:
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O tis strong beere that has undon mo.
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They say tis money makes a man,
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Experience prooves it true I see,
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For my assotiates from me rane,
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When thus strong beere had undone me,
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For when I had clothes to my backe,
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And coine to call for liquor free,
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I never did companions lacke,
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Untill strong beere had undon me.
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But now I have consumed all,
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And am as poore as poore may be,
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Here's many laugh to see my fall,
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Now this strong beere has undone me.
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The world is growne to such a passe,
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That if your meanes consumed be,
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You shall be counted but an asse
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And thus strong beere hath undon me.
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The second part. To the same Tune
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W Hen I had coine no tapster durst,
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Refuse to trust me shillings three,
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But now thele see my money first,
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Because strong beere has undone mee.
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Unto a Tapster once I came,
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You'r welcome Sir, draw neere quoth he,
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But now the slave wo'not know my name,
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Because strong beere has undone mee.
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My little hostes at the crowne,
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Would often sit upon my knee,
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But now sheele cry away thou clowne,
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Because strong beere has undone me.
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Besides ther's Tapsters three or foure,
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Where I have spent my money free,
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Are like to thrust me out of doore,
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And say there is no roome for me.
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But if I could get up my meanes,
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As that I doubt will never be,
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I sure would fit those Knaves and Queenes,
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But now strong beere has undone me.
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O is not this a hellish spight,
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That I should thus rejected be,
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Who lately liv'd in such delight,
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Before strong beere had undone me.
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When I doe call to minde the dayes,
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Which I againe shall never see,
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In which torments me many wayes,
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Alas strong beere has undone me.
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Full many a shilling have I spent,
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And cride hang sorrow let it fly,
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In drinke and smoke away it went,
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And thus strong beere hath undone me.
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Then who but I among the rout,
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Of Joviall Blades should welcome be,
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But now my poverty they flout,
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Because strong beere has undone me.
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Then would good fellowes to me say,
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Heere honest Jacke ile drinke to thee,
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Because they knew I still would pay,
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Untill strong beere had undone me.
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Now they who hung upon my purse,
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If I through want should starved be,
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Will not a groate for me disburse,
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Because strong beere has undone me.
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And if I passe by the ale-house doore,
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My host will say, looke there goes he,
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I knew him rich but now hee's poore,
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And thus strong beere has undone me.
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All you good fellowes that heare my case,
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Take heede least in your owne case be,
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I might have liv'd void of disgrace,
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Had not strong beere thus undone me.
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Shake of ill company in time,
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Which wrongeth many a man you see,
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Now I through them am like to pine,
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And tis strong beere that has undone me.
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Farewell strong beere my mortall foe,
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Ile drinke no more therefore of thee,
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A good cause why my purse is lowe,
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For thou strong beere hast undone mee.
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