The enter’d prentices song. By our late brother Mr Mathew Birkhead, deceas’d. To be sung when all grave business is over, and with the Master’s leave.
| TYPE | 3 - Complex Melody |
| TOPIC | Masons |
| VERSE STRUCTURE | 6v 6l |
| TIME SIGNATURE | 64 |
| KEY SIGNATURE | ♭ |
| TONAL CENTRE | F |
| INCIPIT | GC'C'C'BABD'D'D'C'B |
| GENRE | Ballad |
| TEXT SOURCE | 'The enter’d prentices song' (Dublin: George Faulkner, [1726?]) British Library C.121.g.8.(90.) |
| TUNE SOURCE | Henry Playford, Wit and Mirth; or Pills to Purge Melancholy (London, 1714), Vol. V p.61. |
| FIRST LINE | Come let us prepare |
| NOTATED INCIPIT | |
| The tune had earlier been printed in James Anderson, The constitutions of the free-masons. Containing the history, charges, regulations, &c of that most ancient and right worshipful fraternity. For the use of the lodges (London: printed by William Hunter, for John Senex, John Hooke, 1723), p. 90 (and later in a Dublin 1730 printing). However, the tune was first printed in Wit and Mirth; or Pills to Purge Melancholy (1714), Vol V, p.61 (where it appeared as the tune for ‘On the Queen’s Progress to the Bath’). The tune is also used for one of the Drapier's songs, 'A New song sung at the Club at Mr Taplin's'. | |
THE Enter’d PRENTICES SONG. By our late BROTHER Mr Mathew Birkhead, deceas’d. To be sung when all grave Business is over, and with the Master’s Leave.I.COME let us prepare,We Brothers that areAssembled on merry Occasion;Let’s drink, laugh, and sing;Our Wine has a Spring:Here’s a Health to an Accepted Mason.II.The World is in pain,Our Secrets to gain,And still let them wonder and gaze on;They ne’er can divineThe Word or the SignOf a Free and an Accepted Mason.III.‘Tis This, and ‘tis That,They cannot tell What,Why so many Great Men of the NationShould Aprons put on,To make themselves oneWith a free and Accepted MASON.IV.Great KINGS, DUKES, and LORDSHave lady by their Swords,Our Myst’ry ot put a good Grace on,And ne’er been asham’dTo hear themselves nam’dWith a Free and Accepted MASON.V.Antiquity’s PrideWe have on our side,And it maketh Men just in their Station:There’s nought but what’s goodTo be understoodBy a Free and Accepted MASON.VI.Then join Hand in Hand,T’each other firm stand,Let’s by merry and put a bright Face onWhat Mortal can boastSo NOBEL A TOASTAs a Free and an Accepted MASON.