The Two Barrels

Song For The Rifle Volunteers Of England: There's a barrel I have in a corner so snug, Well charged with the best of good ale; With a tankard of that how the time will slip by, With a pipe and a song, or a tale. If a friend, just from over the way, should step in, He is hail'd with a hearty good cheer, And never repents as he tastes the contents Of an Englishman's barrel of beer. Chor. And never repents, &c. There's a barrel I have, but much stronger than beer Is the charge which for that I intend; It hangs by the chimney, in readiness near-- For I mean it my hearth to defend. If a foe--just from over the way--should drop in, We'll meet him with three hearty cheers, But I swear he repents when he tastes the contents Of the barrels of stout Volunteers. Chor. I swear he repents, &c. And thus, double-barrell'd, my boys, let us live, Prepar'd for our friends or our foes; The hand that in friendship we readily give, Is as ready, at need, to give blows. And whether the spigot or trigger we draw, Our barrels won't fail us, I ween; So tankards and rifles let's charge, hip hurra! For our Freedom, our Country, and Queen!