The history and politics of the English protest song

1938

The Man Who Waters the Workers' Beer

Tune: Original
Lyrics: Dr. R. E. W. Fisher aka Paddy Ryan
Composer: Dr. R. E. W. Fisher aka Paddy Ryan

I am the man, the very fat man,
That waters the workers’ beer
I am the man, the very fat man,
That waters the workers’ beer
And what do I care if it makes them ill,
If it makes them terribly queer
I’ve a car, a yacht, and an aeroplane,
And I waters the workers’ beer.

Now when I waters the workers’ beer,
I puts in strychnine
Some methylated spirits,
And a can of kerosine
Ah, but such a brew so terribly strong,
It would make them terribly queer
So I reaches my hand for the watering-can
And I waters the workers’ beer.

Now a drop of good beer is good for a man
When he’s tired, thirsty and hot
And I sometimes have a drop myself,
From a very special pot
For a strong and healthy working class
Is the thing that I most fear
So I reaches my hand for the watering-can
And I waters the workers’ beer.

Now ladies fair, beyond compare,
Be you maiden or wife
Spare a thought for such a man
Who leads such a lonely life
For the water rates are frightfully high,
And the meths is terribly dear
And there ain’t the profit there used to be
In watering the workers’ beer.

Lyrics

The song satirises the boss (‘what do I care if it makes them ill … I've a car, a yacht, and an aeroplane’), who poisons the beer because ‘a strong and healthy working class is the thing that I most fear’. It was the first song to be released by Topic, which claims to be the world’s oldest independent label. Topic’s brief was to produce ‘gramophone records of historical and social interest’.

Cause: Anti-capitalist | Socialist
Theme: Impact of Change | Rights
Target of Protest: Bosses