“Rock's Poteen”

Description

The singer's "soul for every ill prepares, Whilst I've poteen to cheer me." He prefers Rock's poteen to Briton's ale and beer. Wine is for "stupid sots." "Then fill your glass of sparkling juice That never met a gauger's nose."

Notes

Morton-Ulster: "A 'Gauger' was a member of the Revenue Police, who until their disbandment in the mid 1850s, had been charged with the suppression of illicit distillation -- poteen making."

Croker-PopularSongs: "From 1802 to June 1806 ... no less than 13349 unlicensed whisky-stills ... were seized in Ireland.... This song, in praise of poteen, is copied from _Captain Rock in London, No.2_" - BS

References

  1. Croker-PopularSongs, pp. 78-79, "Rock's Poteen" (1 text)
  2. BI, CrPS078

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1839 (Croker-PopularSongs)
Keywords: drink nonballad