21.1 Holding onto office, with affable cynicism. One verse plus chorus of The Vicar of Bray (c.1725), whose views change with changing circumstances

In good King Charles’s golden days [Charles II ],
When loyalty no harm meant;
A zealous High-Church man I was,
And so I gain’d Preferment.
Unto my flock I daily preached
Kings are by God appointed,
And damn’d are those who dare resist –
Or touch the Lord’s Anointed.

[Chorus] And this is law, I will maintain Unto my dying day, Sir, That whatsoever King may reign, I’ll be the Vicar of Bray, Sir! …

21.2 Intense spiritual recoil from having participated in the horrors of the slave trade. Two verses of John Newton’s Amazing Grace (1779)

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed. …

21.3 Three verses + chorus of Auld Lang Syne [Former Times], the world’s most frequently sung song, translated into over 40 different languages, and celebrating affectionate remembrance. It was adaptively penned in 1788 by Robert Burns (1759 – 96), based on an older popular ballad; and in 1799 it was set to another folk tune, making a powerful combination. It is a favoured song for community singing at commemorative meetings, such as at funerals; End-of-Year celebrations; passing-out parades; and other collective gatherings

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And auld lang syne?

[Chorus]
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

We twa hae run about the braes
And pu’d the gowans [daisies] fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot
Sin’ auld lang syne.

[Chorus]

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere [companion],
And gie’s a hand o’ thine;
And we’ll tak a right guid-willie waught [goodwill drink],
For auld lang syne.

[Chorus]

STOP PRESS
21.4 An announcement from Retrospect Opera:

Retrospect Opera has just released a recording of Charles Dibdin’s The Wags of 1790. This was the most successful of his celebrated one-man shows, or, as he liked to call them (developing the idea of tabletalk), “Table Entertainments”.
Dibdin stood behind a piano, alternating speaking and singing, bringing a wide range of comic characters to life. The Table Entertainments are now brought to life again by the versatile talents of Simon Butteriss www.simonbutteriss.com/home.html

accompanied by Stephen Higgins on a genuine 1801 Broadwood piano. The CD release is accompanied by a booklet containing a complete edited text of The Wags and introductory essays by John Cunningham and David Chandler. It is available from good music retailers, or directly from Retrospect Opera www.retrospectopera.org.uk/
CD_Sales.html

For anyone wanting to experience The Wags, the entire recording is also on YouTube: www.youtube.com/FbABKeLVGQ