Beer Song
NO BEER, NO WORK
Sammy Edwards, 1919
Johnny Hymer was a miner, always on the job.
Johnny loved his lager like a sailor loves his grog.
One day, his foreman told him that this country would go dry.
John threw his tools upon the ground. You should have heard him cry:
CHORUS: "No beer, no work" will be my battle cry.
"No beer, no work" when I am feeling dry.
I never could like lemonade or bevo*, for beer is all I'll buy.
I'll hide my self away
Until some brighter day
When I can sip the lager from a stein.
"No beer, no work" will be my battle cry
After the first of July.
Johnny's steady, ever ready to give good advice,
Said, "Go back to work or there'll be no old shoes or rice.
Be like Kipling's hero. Bear your troubles with a grin."
John said, "I'll be your hero, but I'll be no Gunga Din."**
"When I was a baby," said our Johnny with a smile,
"They raised me on a bottle. Now they want to change the style.
John Barleycorn's a friend of mine. My daddy knew him well.
He'd bring John home with him at night and ma would give him -(crash!)-.