Page Content

Mr T. Dunn’s Half Century Birthday Song.

In the Rock Salt Mines of Cheshire

Thomas Dunn was an engineer and owner of Windsor Bridge Iron Works, Pendleton, Manchester. On 11th July 1863 he held his 50th birthday party in Marston Rock Salt Mine. He composed the following song as a means to celebrate with friends and colleagues.

A version of the song was preformed by Cheshire folk band The Time Bandits at 'The Great Salt'.

FIRST PART

VERSE
Here’s to your health, my merry, merry men,
Fifty years has passed which we cannot see again :
So eat your beef, and drink your beer,
And enjoy yourselves in the Rock Mine here.
 
CHORUS
So eat your beef, and drink your beer,
And enjoy yourselves in the Rock Mine here. 


Here’s to your improvement my apprentice boys,
Pray sit you still, and make no noise,
But listen to the merry sons that are going on,
And join in the chorus every one.
 
CHORUS ~ So eat your beef ect. 

Here’s to the ladies, pray sing and dance,
Don’t take us out of winding at every glance;
But join every one, in the joyous throng,
And make yourselves merry all the day long.

 
CHORUS ~ So eat your beef ect.

Here’s to the miners, in the regions below,
That lighted us with torches their works to show,
May they live a long me, and see us again,
As they all are a jolly-hearted set of men.

CHORUS ~ So eat your beef ect.

Here’s to their King, Arthur Anderson,
In his kind of work he is a great gun.
Many a mine from destruction he has saved,
And only an honest living he has craved.

 
CHORUS ~ So eat your beef ect.

Here’s to you men, of square and compass,
We’re glad you are here without any rumpus:
In these mines we require neither tyler nor pass-word,
The thing would be ridiculous, and very absurd.

 
CHORUS ~ So eat your beef ect.

Tighten your drums, and string your harp,
And give us a tune for old friend Sharpe:
He and his friends now in Canada West,
Are drinking our health with the very best.

CHORUS ~ So eat your beef ect.

SECOND PART

VERSE
Here’s to all your healths, friends of mine,
Fill your cup, and drink your Wine.
And make your selves merry in the Rock Salt Mine.

CHORUS
Fill your cup, and drink your Wine.
And make your selves merry in the Rock Salt Mine
 

Here’s to you Merchants of London Town,
Men of capital and glorious renown,
In your memorandas pray note this down.

CHORUS.- Fill your cup, ect.
 
Here’s to you Members of the Society of Arts,
These are not great granite rocks where you look for quarts.
But we you have found a jolly lot of hearts,

CHORUS.- Fill your cup, ect.
 
Here’s to you Civil Engineers of works so great,
We hope you wont forget the survey treat,
And note it in your calendar, please mind the date.

CHORUS.- Fill your cup, ect.

Here’s to you Members of Great Naval Architects,
Build our ships with sound bottoms and good decks,
And plan your works that we have no wrecks.

CHORUS.- Fill your cup, ect.

Here’s to the North of England Engineer Miners,
We hope this night they will prove good diners,
And not the very worst of wine-ers.

CHORUS.- Fill your cup, ect.

Here’s to you Bankers and Farmers of Wealth,
We cannot do without you, so we drink your health,
You prevent us being robb’d by men of stealth.

CHORUS.- Fill your cup, ect. 
 
Here’s to your health, the Mechanical Engineer,
We are glad to meet you all down here,
For its our own trade which we love so dear.

CHORUS.- Fill your cup, ect.

To all friends abroad and far away,
We drink their health before we go away,
And beg to conclude, having no more to say.

CHORUS.- Fill your cup, ect.