Old Wood Is Best

A fire that’s made of green wood - Of greenwood - A fire that’s mad of greenwood Is nought but smoke and smell; So light your fire of old wood - Of old wood - See your fire be old wood And it will warm you well. A ship that’s built of new wood - Of new wood - A ship that’s built of new wood Will let the salt sea through; So look your plamks be seasoned - Well seasoned - Build of wood well seasoned Or you shall surely rue. A house that’s built of green wood - Of green wood - The roof that’s built of green wood Will only warp and fall; So look your beams be old wood - Be old wood - Look you build with old wood Or never build at all. Oak and elm and chestnut - Sweet chestnut - Oak and elm and chestnut That grow on English ground; And best if you can get ‘em - Can get ‘em - Ship’s ribs if you can get ‘em That have sailed the world around. For old wine’s the best wine - The best wine - The oldest wine’s the best wine And best the oldest friend. And an old ship’s timbers - Old timbers - An old ship’s timbers Will serve you to the end.