...and Be Merry!

I’m half German and half Irish.

Having said that, I’m embarrassed to say that I have not been much of a “pub” drinker and singer. Unlike other German and Irish families, our family was never into drinking to the point of breaking into a ballad or polka (with the exception of going to the Duck Inn and listening to my brother, Sir John of Rosedale, mesmerize the locals with his rendition of Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport). I’ve missed something along the way – a lot of public drunkenness and being merry... to a tune.

One “person” I’ve failed to meet along the way is Charlie Mops (I’ve never even heard of Charlie Mops until recently). Charlie Mops, it turns out, invented beer! At least, that’s what this famous Irish “pub” tune claims:

A long time ago, way back in history,
when all there was to drink was nothin but cups of tea.
Along came a man by the name of Charlie Mops,
and he invented a wonderful drink and he made it out of hops.

(Chorus) He must have been an admiral a sultan or a king,
and to his praises we shall always sing.
Look what he has done for us he's filled us up with cheer!
Lord bless Charlie Mops, the man who invented beer beer beer
tiddly beer beer beer.

The Curtis bar, the James' Pub, the Hole in the Wall as well
one thing you can be sure of, its Charlie's beer they sell
so all ye lads a lasses at eleven O'clock ye stop
for five short seconds, remember Charlie Mops 1 2 3 4 5

(Chorus)

A barrel of malt, a bushel of hops, you stir it around with a stick,
the kind of lubrication to make your engine tick.
40 pints of wallop a day will keep away the quacks.
Its only eight pence hapenny and one and six in tax, 1 2 3 4 5

(Chorus)

The Lord bless Charlie Mops!

- - -

So the next time we meet, let us raise a pint and salute Charlie Mops. I don't know if I'll break out in song, but the Lord bless all good Knights and Charlie Mops.

Sir Bowie of Greenbriar