Traditional
I can't remember where I ran across this, but I have a note that says it was sung by John Nicholson, Jordan Mountain, near Sussex, NB, transcribed by Kenneth Peacock, October 1979.
All my sacred thoughts I will unfold to all young men are here
Young women they are good company to make the boys appear
Young women they are good company but I will wed with none
And if all young men were of my mind, the girls would walk alone
Oh if I were to marry a pretty girl, how happy I would be
And if I were to marry a grey old one, the boys would laugh at me
And if I were to marry a great big one she'd surely knock me down
And small women they are peevish… drink round, my boys, drink round
Drink round, my boys, drink round – until it comes to me
For the longer that we drink and chat the merrier we'll be
Oh here's to the faggot-maker, he sits at home at ease
And he goes to work at six o'clock, knocks off whenever he please
And he takes his faggot and binds it and throws it on the ground
And he takes his twine and twines it; drink round my boys, drink round
I owe no debts, I pay no rent, I have none to repine
I have no cradle for to rock, no babies for to mind
My parents dear they need not dear, for they are laid low down
And I mean to lead a single life; drink round, my boys, drink round
Oh, the girls they all do wink at me at every town and fair
But I never pay any mind to them as though they were not there*
I mean to lead a single life wherever I may roam
And there's none in life may kiss my wife when I am not at home
*this line obscured in original text
Bachelor's Song is recorded on the album Dear To Our Island