Down Among the Dead Men (song)

"Down Among the Dead Men"
drinking song
Published	1728
Composer	Henry Purcell (possible)
Lyricist	John Dyer (possible)
Language	English

"Down Among the Dead Men" is an English drinking song first published in 1728, but possibly of greater antiquity.

The song begins with a toast to "the King" and continues with obeisances to the god Bacchus which become increasingly less subtle descriptions of the benefits of alcohol in procuring opportunities for sexual intercourse. At the conclusion of each stanza of the song, those who deny the song's declarations are condemned to lay "down among the dead men," a euphemism for drunken unconsciousness.

Background

Peter Dawson sings "Down Among the Dead Men" in a 1909 recording.

The lyrics to the song have been most widely attributed to John Dyer.^[1] According to Charles Mackay, it was first performed at the theater at Lincoln's Inn Fields.^[2] Another source gives credit for the melody to Henry Purcell, noting that it was first published in 1728 in The Dancing Master, a multi-volume book of songs from Pearson & Young, but is likely of older origin.^[3] The song maintained its popularity into the Victorian era, with the lyrics modified to replace the word "King" with the word "Queen" during the reign of Queen Victoria.^[1]

The song makes use of a number of metaphors, most prominently the song's title "Down Among the Dead Men." "Dead men" is an archaic term for empty bottles and the expression to "lie down among the dead men" means to get so drunk as to slip from one's chair and land under the table where the empty bottles have been discarded.^[4]

Modern arrangements

Stanford's "Concert Variations upon an English Theme" is an 1898 arrangement of "Down Among the Dead Men." (sample)

• In 1898 Charles Villiers Stanford used "Down Among the Dead Men" as a theme for a series of orchestral variations, "Concert Variations upon an English Theme".^[3]
• Joyce Kilmer wrote new lyrics to the song between 1904 and 1905 for use by the Delta Upsilon fraternity in the United States and Canada.^[5][6]
• The song found its way into a number of late 19th, and early 20th, century songbooks of universities in the Anglosphere, including those of Columbia University, Northwestern University, McGill University, and the University of Oxford.

"Down Among the Dead Men" forms part of the repertoire of some American university glee clubs. The University of Pennsylvania Glee Club performs it here in 2012. (sample)

• Several vocal and instrumental performances of "Down Among the Dead Men" are included in the soundtrack to the 2013 video game Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. It also appears in Assassin's Creed Syndicate in several music box's hidden throughout London.

Lyrics

The third and fourth stanzas of "Down Among the Dead Men" reference Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, fertility, and ritual madness.

Here's a health to the King, and a lasting peace
May faction end and wealth increase.
Come, let us drink it while we have breath,
For there's no drinking after death.
And he that will this health deny,
Down among the dead men, down among the dead men,
Down, down, down, down;
Down among the dead men let him lie!

Let charming beauty's health go round,
With whom celestial joys are found.
And may confusion yet pursue,
That selfish woman-hating crew.
And he who'd woman's health deny,
Down among the dead men, down among the dead men,
Down, down, down, down;
Down among the dead men let him lie!

In smiling Bacchus' joys I'll roll,
Deny no pleasures to my soul.
Let Bacchus' health round briskly move,
For Bacchus is the friend of love.
And he that would this health deny,
Down among the dead men, down among the dead men,
Down, down, down, down;
Down among the dead men let him lie!

May love and wine their rights maintain,
And their united pleasures reign.
While Bacchus' treasure crowns the board,
We'll sing the joy that both afford.
And they that won't with us comply,
Down among the dead men, down among the dead men,
Down, down, down, down;
Down among the dead men let them lie!

References

1. Gregory, E. David (2010). The Late Victorian Folksong Revival. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 464. ISBN 0810869888.
2. Mackay, Charles (n.d.). The Illustrated Book of English Songs. H. Ingram & Co. p. 123.
3. Moffat, Alfred (1901). Characteristic songs and dances of all nations. Bailey & Ferguson. p. 10.
4. Phyfe, William (1901). 5000 Facts and Fancies. G. P. Putnam. p. 225.
5. Books at Brown. Brown University. 1945. p. 16.
6. Delta Upsilon Quarterly. 1905. p. 283.