William McGibbon (arr.)
(c.1690 - 1756)

McGibbon (arr.) : Old Sir Simon the king (with variations) : illustration

Old Sir Simon the king (with variations)
(Any instruments)
D major score, parts and cover page (PDF), €0.60 for bundle   Buy this item
G major score, parts and cover page (PDF), €0.60 for bundle   Buy this item

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One night it entered my mind to wander up and down
No company could I find 'til I came to the Rose and Crown
The barman was sick with the mumps, the maid was ill at her ease
The tapster was down in the dumps: they were all of one disease:
For drink shall make a man drunk, drunk shall make a man dry,
Dry shall make a man sick and sick shall make a man die
Says old Sir Simon the king, old Sir Simon the king
With his ale dropped toes and his malmesy nose
Sing hey ding ding-a ding ding


The tune's first appearance in print was in the 6th (1679) edition of the "Dancing Master" but it was first printed in its prevalent form as a set of variations with a ground bass in "Musick's Handmaid", 1689, attributed to Henry Purcell.

The current set was published in McGibbon's "Collection of Scots tunes", c.1760. and is offered in D major with the violin in mind, and in G major for the treble recorder.