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Traditional English Folk Songs

A Collection Of Traditional British Folk Songs Full English - A Collection Of Traditional British Folk Songs features the amazing talents of Mat Williams who did most of the vocals and also played most of the traditional instruments involved in the recordings, such as Guitar, Violin, Viola, Mandolin, Banjo, Banman, Upright Bass, Piano and many more. Mat invited some fellow folk musicians to share him for this album and add more traditional instruments, such as the Irish Whistle, Uilleann Pipes and Bodhran. Enjoy the music and read along as you listen!



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Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes


Sound Sample:
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Drink to me only with thine eyes
And I shall pledge with mine.
Or leave a kiss within the cup
And I’ll not ask for wine.
The thirst that from the soul doth rise
Doth ask a drink divine,
But might I of Jove’s nectar sip
I would not change for thine.

I sent for thee a rosy wreath
Not so much hon’ring thee,
As giving it a hope that there
It could not withered be.
But thou thereon did’st only breathe
And send’st it back to me,
Since when it grows and smells, I swear,
Not of itself but thee.

The thirst that from the soul doth rise
Doth ask a drink divine,
But might I of Jove’s nectar sip
I would not change for thine.
Drink to me only with thine eyes
And I shall pledge with mine.
Or leave a kiss within the cup
And I’ll not ask for wine.





















Music: Traditional,
words: Ben Johnson,
arranged & performed by Mat Williams





Origin and meaning of Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes

Most folk songs are anonymous, being part of an oral tradition that is modified from one generation to the next. This song is unusual in that it is “authored,” (written by Ben Johnson) and appears in as many poetry anthologies as song books, although firmly regarded as “folk.” The tune may have been written for it, or an existing tune adapted - its origin is unclear.

Ben Johnson lived at the same time as William Shakespeare and the period word order may appear a little confusing. For example, “Drink to me only” does not mean “drink to me and not to anyone else.” It means “just look at me with those eyes of yours instead of raising a glass to salute me.” This thought continues: “I will look back at you and we will have no need to raise a cup of wine, we don’t even need nectar, the drinks of the gods.” The wreath of roses (wreath in the sense of a decoration for the hair, rather than funeral flowers) is sent in the hope that the cut flowers will not wither in the vital presence of the lady. She breathes on them, sends them back and not only do they not wilt, but begin to grow again and their scent becomes not of roses, but of the lady herself.

This is an unusual love song in another way. Nobody is broken-hearted. Nobody is cruelly separated. Nobody wants to kill himself. Nobody wants to kill anybody else. Nobody is racked with jealousy. There is never a mention of harps, willow trees, press gangs or irate families. It is purely a quiet conversation between two lovers who understand each other very well. It is very gentle and very powerful.

Commentary written by Gillian Goodman,
© ClassicRocks, Mat Williams 2012

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