The song can be found, amongst other sources, in Luke Lively, The merry fellow; or, jovial companion: being the wit's pocket-book and entertaining magazine ... By Luke Lively, gent. (Dublin, 1757) (2 vols.), ii p.276; The chearful companion. A collection of songs; among which are a variety of originals, not to be met with in any other collection (Edinburgh, 1766), p.65; The festival of Momus, a collection of comic songs, including the modern and a variety of originals (London, [1780?]), p.280; as 'Toby Philpot' in G. Cunningham, The cheerful companion, in his hours of leisure: containing upward of two hundred songs, catches, glees, &c. selected from the best publications (Bath, 1797), p.35; and as 'Old Agnes (a sequel to Toby Philpot)' in A choice selection of favorite new songs, duets, &c. now singing at Astley's Circus, theatres, &c. and a collection of toasts and sentiments (London, [1800?]), p.16.
Toby Reduced or Toby Philpot
Dear Tom this brown jug that now foams with mild ale,
(In which I will drink to sweet Nan of the vale,)
Was once Toby Fillpot, a thirsty old soul,
As e’er drank a bottle or fathom’d a bowl.
In boozing about ‘twas his praise to excel,
And among jolly topers he bore off the bell.-
Bell, he bore off the bell.
It chanc’d as in dog-days he sat at his ease,
In his flow’r-woven arbour as gay as you please;
With a friend and a pipe puffing sorrow away,
And with honest old stingo was soaking his clay,
His breath-doors of life on a sudden were shut,
And he died full as big as a Dorchester butt.
His body, when long in the ground it had lain,
And time into clay had resolv’d it again,
A potter found out in its covert so snug,
And with part of fat Toby he form’d this brown jug;
Now sacred to friendship, and mirth, and mild ale,
So here’s to my lovely sweet Nan of the vale.
Vale, sweet Nan of the vale.
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