In Other Words/Bacchanalian Songs

Bacchanalian Songs

(The American Magazine advances that most of the
drinking songs are pretty poor stuff.)

These endless aimless, footless airs!
Carousers start and never end ’em:
“We’re Here Because’; “Nobody Cares”;
“Nunc Est Bibendum.”

’Tis true. The lyric of the souse
Is often far from a divine song,
Be it “‘Another on the House”
Or Hovey’s “Stein Song.”

A myriad more the drinking cuss
Will carol as the hours grow slender?
“Lang Soll Er Leben” and “Give Us
A Drink, Bartender!”

Poor stuff, in sooth. Yet though the loads
May warble dithyrambics wishy,
Meseems I know no stirring odes
To Milk-and-Vichy.