In honor of the birthday of American composer Charles Ives (1874-1954), here is “A Son of a Gambolier,” sung by the Gregg Smith Singers.
Come join my humble ditty,
From Tippery town I steer;
Like every honest fellow
I take my lager beer;
Like every honest fellow
I take my whiskey clear;
I’m a rambling rake of poverty
And a son of a gambolier.
I wish I had a barrel of rum
And sugar three hundred pound,
The college bell to mix it in,
The clapper to stir it round;
I’d drink the health of dear old Yale,
And friends both far and near;
I’m a rambling rake of poverty
And a son of a gambolier.
(Photograph: Ives’ graduation portrait from Yale University, June 1898)
bluebird of bitterness 
[…] Happy birthday, Charles — bluebird of bitterness […]
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Thank you for the link. 🙂
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Love it!
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