The butchers cast him out

But John Duck showed them all

He turned his luck around

With his back against the wall

Here’s to you, John Duck!

And to you me jolly soul!

And to you with all me heart!

And to you we’ll take a quart!

With you I’ll drink a drop or two

Before that we do part!

Here’s to you, John Duck!

Here’s to you, John Duck!

John Duck bought a calf

For a price that was absurd

But the calf became a cow 

And the cow became a herd

Here’s to you, John Duck!

And to you me jolly soul!

And to you with all me heart!

And to you we’ll take a quart!

With you I’ll drink a drop or two

Before that we do part!

Here’s to you, John Duck!

Here’s to you, John Duck!

There are some who do not take

The chances good luck brings

But money talks and John Duck walked

In confidence with kings

Here’s to you, John Duck!

And to you me jolly soul!

And to you with all me heart!

And to you we’ll take a quart!

With you I’ll drink a drop or two

Before that we do part!

Here’s to you, John Duck!

Here’s to you, John Duck!

From apprentice-boy to businessman

with property to let

From philanthropist to mayor

Then to butcher baronet

Here’s to you, John Duck!

And to you me jolly soul!

And to you with all me heart!

And to you we’ll take a quart!

With you I’ll drink a drop or two

Before that we do part!

Here’s to you, John Duck!

Here’s to you, John Duck!

(Gary Miller: adapted from 'The Card Song' [Traditional])

© 2018 Whippet Records

Copyright Control MCPS/PRS

This song was commissioned and specially-written for the upcoming project 'The Butcher Baronet', in collaboration with Lone Pine Pictures, about the 17th Century Durham City historical figure John Duck.

Other songs and tunes from this project include : -

'The Beer Token'

'Behind the Wall'

'The Butcher Baronet'

'Ca' Hawkie'

'Cast Out'

'City of Dreams'

'Cloak and Hood'

'Duck's Overture'

'Dunholm'

'Elementary (Turn Turn Again)'

'Flesh and Bone'

'Fortune Weaver'

'Go Away!'

'Golden Journey: Through Air / Over Water / To Earth / On Fire'

'Hold on'

'John's Jacobus (Inscription)'

'Merrily Danced The Butcher's Wife'

'My Butcher Boy'

'Now I Dream'

'Old Duck's Main'

'Old Duck's Rant'

'Rolling on (A Hymn for John and Ann)'

'Shiny Thing'

'Top of the Hill'

'We Don't Talk About Him 'Round Here'