Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Inside the Bar

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Inside the Bar

”Inside the Bar" is a song written in 1917 by the English composer Edward Elgar, with words by Sir Gilbert Parker.

Contents

It was published by Enoch & Sons in 1917.

In its original version it is a part-song for four baritones with a piano part marked accompaniment ad lib., but it was also arranged by the composer as a song for solo voice with piano accompaniment, and for a group of two tenors and two basses.

It is sub-titled A Sailor's Song, and dedicated to the singers Charles Mott, Harry Barratt, Frederick Henry and Frederick Stewart, following their successful performances of Elgar's The Fringes of the Fleet. It was first performed at the Coliseum Theatre in London, on 25 June 1917. The song was added to The Fringes of the Fleet songs for the provincial tour of that year, with Charles Parker replacing Charles Mott who had been called upon to serve in the army.

It tells the story of a sailor's longing for a safe harbour and his girl. Notably, with its juxtaposition to the Fringes of the Fleet songs, it makes no reference to the wartime role of sailor or ship.

The song's first dedicatee, Charles Mott, was killed on 22 May 1918 in the World War I action in France.

Three other poems by Parker: Oh, soft was the song, Twilight and Was it some Golden Star? had earlier been set to music by Elgar, as part of his Op. 59 song-cycle in 1910.

Lyrics

I knows a town, an' it's a fine town, I knows an inn, an' it's a fine inn, I knows a town, an' it's a fine town; But O my lass, an' O the gay gown I knows a port, an' it's a fine port, I knows a home, an' it's a good home, I knows a port, an' it's a good port; But O the pretty that is my sort I knows a day, an' it's a fine day, I knows a tide, an' it's a good tide, I knows a day, an' it's a fine day; An' Lord help the lubber, I say,

Recordings

  • Elgar: War Music Paul Kenyon, Stephen Godward, Simon Theobald, Russell Watson (baritones)
  • Roderick Williams, Nicholas Lester, Laurence Meikle and Duncan Rock/Guildford Philharmonic/Tom Higgins: Somm SOMMCD243 Includes "Inside the Bar"

    • References

    Inside the Bar Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA