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Water at the Bar

from A Ripple in Time by Tiller's Folly

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lyrics

WATER AT THE BAR

Some men take their poisons, while other men abstain
I've no dispute with either and could often do the same
But there's those who have my sympathy, no matter who they are
Those poor pathetic creatures drinking water at the bar

Now a man might take a ribbing if he ordered up some tea
Some men shout for whiskey though it's not the drink for me
I'll have a pint of ale m'boys for no matter near or far
There's nothing so peculiar, drinking water at the bar

There's those who wouldn't cross the street and them's that takes the pains
Some will take fermented fruit, while the others hops & grains
From the drunkard to the pious man who'd never tilt a jar
There's nothing so peculiar, drinking water at the bar

Now I might forgive a man if he by chance had robbed a bank
Or a Captain whom through sheer neglect allowed his ship to sink
I understand an unfortunate man could be forced to steel a car
But there's simply no excuse for drinking water at the bar

For there's colas and there's sodas from the rafters to the floor
There's juices and there's cocktails and there's cordials galore
There's drinks of all descriptions so it strikes me as bizarre
Have they no imagination drinking water at the bar?

There's those who wouldn't cross the street and them's that takes the pains
Some will take fermented fruit, while the others hops & grains
From the drunkard to the pious man who'd never tilt a jar
There's no one so peculiar, drinking water at the bar

Oh it's fine for washing dishes or for bathing now and then
Or for keeping little fishes, oh but let us not pretend
That unless you set your face on fire with a belching big cigar
You won't be taken kindly, drinking water at the bar

Let all great folk upon this earth, unite in this decree;
For it's nothing short of blasphemous! (I'm sure the Pope agrees)
That no matter how remote you thought your chances were so far
You'll never get to heaven drinking water at the bar

There's those who wouldn't cross the street and them's that takes the pains
Some will take fermented fruit, while the others hops & grains
From the drunkard to the pious man who'd never tilt a jar
There's nothing so peculiar, drinking water at the bar

credits

from A Ripple in Time, released June 1, 2002
Bruce Coughlan – vocals, guitar, wood flute & whistles
Laurence Knight – bass, vocals
Nolan Murray – fiddle, mandolin, 5-string banjo
Michael Santshyn– fiddle, mandolin & vocals
Robbie Steininger – electric slide guitar, mandolin & dobro
Phil Robertson – drums
Ian Cameron – fiddle, mandolin & guitar
Chris Stevens – 5-string banjo
Gord Maxwell – vocals
Jack Duncan – percussion
John Ellis – shakers & guitar
All songs composed by Bruce Coughlan (SOCAN) except; Heel & Toe (trad arranged by Nolan Murray & Bruce Coughlan, Muddy Frogwater & An Dram Buidheach – by Nolan Murray (ASCAP)
Produced by Laurence Knight

Engineered by John Ellis & Eric Reed
Pre-production by Ian Cameron
Recorded at Magic Lab Recorders, Surrey, BC
The Factory, Vancouver, BC and Red Stripe Studios, Burnaby, BC
Tracked at NAL Studios, North Vancouver, BC
Mastered by Jamie Sitar at Suitesound, Vancouver, BC

Graphics by Bruce Coughlan

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) and of Canada’s private radio broadcasters.

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Bruce Coughlan Maple Ridge, British Columbia

Pacific Canadian-based recording & performing artist, Bruce Coughlan has spent decades making Acoustic Roots Music Music of all descriptions. An expressive singer and rock-solid guitarist, Bruce is driven by one guiding principle: It's all about the Song. ... more

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