”Inside the Bar" is a song written in 1917 by the English composer

Edward Elgar Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, (; 2 June 1857 – 23 February 1934) was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestr ...

, with words by Sir

Gilbert Parker Sir Horatio Gilbert George Parker, 1st Baronet (23 November 1862 – 6 September 1932), known as Gilbert Parker, Canadian novelist and British politician, was born at Camden East, Addington, Ontario, the son of Captain Joseph Parker, R.A. Ed ...

. It was published by Enoch & Sons in 1917. In its original version it is a part-song for four baritones with a piano part marked ''accompaniment ad lib.'', but it was also arranged by the composer as a song for solo voice with piano accompaniment, and for a group of two tenors and two basses. It is sub-titled ''A Sailor's Song'', and dedicated to the singers Charles Mott, Harry Barratt, Frederick Henry and Frederick Stewart, following their successful performances of Elgar's ''

The Fringes of the Fleet ''The Fringes of the Fleet'' is a booklet written in 1915 by Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936). The booklet contains essays and poems about nautical subjects in World War I. It is also the title of a song-cycle written in 1917 with music by the En ...

''. It was first performed at the Coliseum Theatre in London, on 25 June 1917. The song was added to ''The Fringes of the Fleet'' songs for the provincial tour of that year, with Charles Parker replacing Charles Mott who had been called upon to serve in the army. It tells the story of a sailor's longing for a safe harbour and his girl. Notably, with its juxtaposition to the ''Fringes of the Fleet'' songs, it makes no reference to the wartime role of sailor or ship. The song's first dedicatee, Charles Mott, was killed on 22 May 1918 in the World War I action in France. Three other poems by Parker: ''

Oh, soft was the song ''Oh, soft was the song'' is a song with words by Gilbert Parker set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1910, as his Op. 59, No. 3. It is the second and last verse of a poem ''At Sea'' which Parker published in Volume I of a series ...

'', '' Twilight'' and ''

Was it some Golden Star? ''Was it some Golden Star?'' is a poem written by Gilbert Parker, published in Volume I of a series of poems called ''Embers''. It was set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1910, as his Op. 59, No. 5. The Opus 59 songs were part ...

'', from the same book of poems called ''Embers'', had earlier been set to music by Elgar as part of his Op. 59 song-cycle in 1910.

Lyrics

:I knows a town, an' it's a fine town, ::An' many a brig goes sailin' to its quay; ::::::Yo-ho. :I knows an inn, an' it's a fine inn, ::An' a lass that's fair to see. :I knows a town, an' it's a fine town; ::I knows an inn, an' it's a fine inn - :But O my lass, an' O the gay gown ::Which I have seen my pretty in! :I knows a port, an' it's a fine port, ::An' many a brig is ridin' easy there; ::::::Yo-ho. :I knows a home, an' it's a good home, ::An' a lass that's sweet and fair. :I knows a port, an' it's a good port; ::I knows a home, an' it's a good home - :But O the pretty that is my sort ::What's wearyin' till I come! :I knows a day, an' it's a fine day, ::The day a sailorman comes back to town; ::::::Yo-ho. :I knows a tide, an' it's a good tide, ::The tide that gets you quick to anchors down. :I knows a day, an' it's a fine day; ::I knows a tide, an' it's a good tide - :An' Lord help the lubber, I say, ::What's stole the sailorman's bride. ::::::Yo-ho!

Recordings

Elgar: War Music
Paul Kenyon, Stephen Godward, Simon Theobald, Russell Watson (baritones) * Roderick Williams, Nicholas Lester, Laurence Meikle and Duncan Rock/Guildford Philharmonic/Tom Higgins: Somm SOMMCD243Elgar: The Fringes of the Fleet, etc: Williams/Guildford PO/Higgins
/ref> Includes "Inside the Bar"

References

*Moore, Jerrold N. “Edward Elgar: a creative life” (Oxford University Press, 1984)

External links

* {{authority control Songs by Edward Elgar 1917 songs