"Fathom the Bowl" is an English Drinking song

Drinking song

A drinking song is a song sung while drinking alcohol. Most drinking songs are folk songs, and may be varied from person to person and region to region, in both the lyrics and in the music...

, probably dating from the nineteenth century.

Synopsis

With a "Come all ye" opening, the singer invites heroes to join him in praise of punch

Punch (drink)

Punch is the term for a wide assortment of drinks, both non-alcoholic and alcoholic, generally containing fruit or fruit juice. The drink was introduced from India to England in the early seventeenth century; from there its use spread to other countries...

. There is a catalogue of the ingredients that come from various countries. One verse laments the fact that the singer's father lies at the bottom of the sea. Finally the singer complains that his wife is a scold. During the chorus, the singing slows down in order to relish a rising musical scale on "Fathom-the bowl".

Commentary

The ingredients of punch include expensive spirits, too expensive for ordinary people . This has led to the suggestion that the song would be sung by smugglers. This might place it in the late eighteenth century or early nineteenth century. It might also explain the dead man at the bottom of the sea. On the other hand it might a song sung by wealthy middle-class young gentlemen or military officers, which gradually made its way down the social ladder. The use of the word "fathom" is the lesser used verb form, to measure the depth of something. This would rarely be used by non-sailors, which may also be taken to imply something about the lyricist.

Historical Background

The fact that the early versions are almost identical to current versions implies that it has been valued for the simplicity of the words . It is also very compact in geographical spread. Almost all collected version are from the south of England, and none were collected outside England. The verse:

My father he doth lie at the bottom of the sea

No stone at his head, ah, but what careth he?

While that clear crystal fountain over England doth roll

Give me the punch ladle, I’ll fathom the bowl

is slightly mysterious. How does a fountain roll? According to the "folkinfo" website the "Clear crystal fountain" is supposed to refer to winter storms, but it is not obvious how this is either possible or relevant to the story. Perhaps the clouds will roll overhead, in a cold country like England in winter time.

Cultural Relationships

The song implies a camaraderie with all those who hear the song and is ideal for singing in a chorus. Appropriately, there is a beer made by the brewery called "West Berkshire" called "Fathom the Bowl".

Broadsides

The earliest printed broadside are Such (London, between 1863 and 1885), Fortey (London, between 1858 and 1885), Hedges (London) and Pitts (London).

Textual Variants

The song was published in 1891 in a songbook, "English Folk Songs" by William Alexander Barrett. It was collected by Baring-Gould, Cecil Sharp (1907) and George Gardiner (Hampshire 1906). There is almost no variation in the text. It is also known as "The Punch Ladle" or "Bowl Bowl".

Motifs

It is a so-called "catalogue song", similar to "Good Luck to The Barley Mow" and "All For Me Grog".

Recordings

Album/Single	Performer	Year	Variant	Notes
"The Watersons"	The Watersons The Watersons The Watersons were an English folk group from Hull, Yorkshire. They performed mainly traditional songs with little or no accompaniment. Their distinctive sound came from their closely woven harmonies.-Career:...	1966	Fathom the Bowl	a cappella singing
"The Wanton Seed"	Frank Purslow	1968	Fathom the Bowl	Printed version
"The Clockwinder"	Cliff Haslam	??	Fathom the Bowl
"Pint Pot and Plough"	Mike Ballantyne	1992	Fathom the Bowl	Canadian singer
Seth Lakeman Seth Lakeman Seth Bernard Lakeman is an English folk singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, who is most often associated with the fiddle and tenor guitar, but has also mastered the viola and banjo...	2002	The Punch Bowl	.
"There's a Clear Crystal Fountain: Songs From Southern England"	Gwilyn Davies	2003	Fathom the Bowl	Also available on Youtube
"Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys is a compilation album of sea shanties performed by a wide array of artists, ranging from Sting to Bryan Ferry, representing a variety of genres. The artists cover a large number of diverse songs of the sea, at times adding elements... "	John C. Reilly John C. Reilly John Christopher Reilly, Jr. is an American film and theater actor, singer, and comedian. Debuting in Casualties of War in 1989, he is one of several actors whose careers were launched by Brian De Palma. To date, he has appeared in more than fifty films, including three separate films in 2002...	2006	Fathom the Bowl	.
"Thrashy Flash and the Irish Stout"	William N. Blyth	2011	Northern Punch Blowl	Canadian singer

External links

• lyrics
• Seth Lakeman lyrics