Oh! the Roast Beef of England - Henry Fielding

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"Original ballad from ''The Grub Street Opera'' (1731) arranged as a part song by Josiah Pittman"

⌛ Period → Baroque ◈ Genre / Form → Partsongs ♬ Voicing → SATB ¶ Language → English

Parts 4

Instruments Piano

Pages 12

CPDL # 77687

Editor David Anderson

Posted 2023-11-28

License Personal

¶Lyrics / Text

Since mighty Roast Beef is an Englishman’s food, It accounts for the freedom that runs in his blood, For generous living’s the step to all good. Oh! the Roast Beef of old England, And oh! the old English Roast Beef. Our fathers of old were robust, stout, and strong, And they kept open house with good cheer all day long, Which made their plump tenants rejoice in this song– Oh! the Roast Beef of old England, And oh! the old English Roast Beef. The tender sirloin was by Royalty’s sword To knighthood ennobled, in grateful record Of the smoking hot joint that he found on the board. Oh! the Roast Beef of old England, And oh! the old English Roast Beef. Great Handel, ’tis said, could eat dinner for six, Which was doubtless his reason on England to fix, As the land where good music with eating they mix. Oh! the Roast Beef of old England, And oh! the old English Roast Beef. Then long may each Briton of beef have his fill, At Christmas, the season of peace and good will, For the man that’s well fed, Sirs, can never do ill. Oh! the Roast Beef of old England, And oh! the old English Roast Beef.