Songs by Robert Burns

Bob Hay & the Jolly Beggars song book
Big Belly'd Bottle

    G                     D
No churchman am I for to rail and to write, 
    Em                      Bm
No statesman nor soldier to plot or to fight, 
     C                  G            D
No sly man of business contriving a snare, 
      C            D             G
For a big-belly'd bottle's the whole of my care.

'Life's cares they are comforts' - a maxim laid down 
By the Bard, what d'ye call him? that wore the black gown; 
And faith I agree with th' old prig to a hair: 
For a big-belly'd bottle's a heav'n o' care.

The peer I don't envy, I give him his bow; 
I scorn not the peasant, tho' ever so low; 
But a club of good fellows, like those that are here, 
And a bottle like this, are my glory and cheer.