"The Friar of the Olden Time" (1837)
A Ballad
Supposed to have been written in the 12th Century
As sung with Enthusiastic Applause
by Mr. H. Russell at his Concert at the City Hotel
The Melody taken from an Old Manuscript Book
The words written by O'Keefe,
The Symphonies & Accompaniments
Composed entire and respectfully dedicated
to Henry John Sharpe Esq
by Henry Russell, 1812-1900.
Pr. 38 Cts nett
New York: James L. Hewitt & Co., 239 Broadway.

1.
I am a Friar of Orders Grey,
And down in the Vallies I take my way,
I pull not Blackberry Haw or Hip,
Good store of Ven’son does full my Scrip;
My long bead roll as I merily chaunt,
Wherever I walk no money I want;
Wherever I walk no money I want,
And why I’m so plump the reason I’ll tell,
Who leads a good life is sure to live well.

CHORUS [sung after each verse]
What Baron or Squire, or Knight of the shire
Lives half so well as a Holy Friar,
half so well, half so well,
half so well, as a Holy Friar
as a Holy Friar,
As a holy Friar,
As a holy Friar?

2. 
After supper of Heaven, I dream,
But that is fat pullets and clouted cream,
Myself by denial I morti-fy;
With a dainty but of a warden pie.
I’m clothed in sackloth for my sin,
With old sack wine I’m lined within;
With old sack wine I’m lined within;
A chirping cup in my matin song,
And the Vesper bell is my bowl ding dong.