Lovers and Friends (Bottle of Stout)

Words and Music: Sean Mone

I heard this song from Mary Meyer McAleese who, along with her husband Danny, used to have a pub in St. Pete Beach called Grace O'Malley's (that 'Pirate Queen again!). Mary said she heard it at the singer's session at the South Sligo Summer School held in Tubbercurry in the late 90's. It had the title "Bottle of Stout" but Mary wasn't sure who the author was. Having subsequently tracked down Sean Mone, the author, he informed me that the title is "Lovers and Friends".

To work for a living I'm able and willing
But living for work's not my fancy
For riches can't slow down the seasons that go 'round
And their value it fades with life's passing
For the joys of the day in our memory will stay
To be recalled at our leisure
And the times that we spend among lovers and friends
Are the times we'll remember with pleasure

So lift up your glass so that future and past
In harmony be determined
For there's more friendship poured out in a bottle of stout
Than you'll find in statute or sermon

For riches and gold I've been bought I've been sold
But I've loved and been loved in proportion
I've dreamed of an end to injustice and pain
And I still haven't quite lost that notion
Of the good and the wise I've heard slander and lies
When honor and truth were forsaken
And I've watched the night end among lovers and friends
And I've been sad to see the dawn breaking

So lift up your glass so that present and past
In harmony be determined
For there's more friendship poured out in a bottle of stout
Than you'll find in statute or sermon

Now the clergy^* are certain that drinkin' and courtin'
Are a sure way to hell and damnation
Well if that is to be, it would seem odd to me
That their God has no sense of occasion
To fulfill his great plan each woman and man
Bring forth each new generation
And a wee drop o' stout and ould bit of a hoult
Can greatly assist procreation

So lift up your glass, throw your arms 'round your lass
And in harmony be determined
For there's more friendship poured out in a bottle of stout
Than you'll find in statute or sermon

To the brashest and boldest and those who shout loudest
It would seem all the power has been given
To berate us, deride us, separate and divide us
In hopes of their version of heaven
But mountains and rivers will be far outlive us
And when our bones into ashes have withered
There'll be lovers and friends who will still comprehend
The true reason we're all here together

So lift up your glass so future and past
In harmony be determined
For there's more friendship poured out in a bottle of stout
Than you'll find in statute or sermon

^*In the 3rd verse of the song, "Now the clergy are certain, etc", the lyric should have been, "And there are those who are certain that drinking and courtin". When I originally heard the song it was sung to the former line. However we can't, and I guess should not blame the clergy entirely for what follows in the verse.

Note: The following are additional or alternative lyrics for the song that I wasn't aware of when I recorded it:

Battles and wars leave deep wounds and scars
Deep wounds are long in the mending
While reflecting upon all that has gone
Life rushes on to it's ending
Though sorrow and pain in our memories remain
And by memories lifetimes are measured
Still the times that we spend among lovers and friends
Are times we'll remember with pleasure

I've heard all the old songs, all the rights, all the wrongs
Heard prophets of doom and destruction
Street corner messiahs and moral pariahs
Dealers in bribes and corruption
From the holy and wise, denials and lies
When innocent youth was forsaken
Yet I've watched the night end among lovers and friends
And been sorry to see the dawn breaking.