'A' WAS AN ARCHER
Music and lyrics by Susan Maskin; voice, Susan Maskin, arranged and played by Bernie Katzman 




Instrumental





Lyrics (check below the lyrics for some definitions)

Let's skip through the alphabet,
That's what we'll do,
Join dear Mother Goose
We'll find people who,
Love drinking and eating and eating much more
Especially fattening stuff they adore,
OK
A was an archer who lapped up some ale with
B the big butcher chewed cake from a pail.
C was a captain with cream on his face and
D dipsy drunkard  he drank wine by the case.
E was  an esquire and
F Farmer Fright,  along with
G gamester  ate pies with delight and
I was an ingrate he took loads of food from
J jolly joiner who  drank beer strongly brewed.
K was a king always ate like a pig,and
L was his lady into food they would dig.
M was a miser he hoarded his sweets, then took from
N nobleman who also  loved treats
O Oyster wench dined with
P Parson Brown 
Queen made a threesome in their food they would drown.
S sailor Snailsnatch and
T Tinker too, would eat enough pastries for me, them and you. And
U the town usurer was very able to eat with
V vintner desserts from the table.
W watchman ate cream puffs  galore, and other
eXpensive desserts by the score... So now we're at
Y they are youths at their schools, who learned that the others are
Z zany fools.


DEFINITIONS of lesser known words


esquire: a member of the English nobility, ranking below a knight

gamester- one who plays games, especially gambling games

ingrate- someone who is never grateful for anything
joiner-a person whose occupation is to construct articles by connection pieces of 
           wood ;  also, someone who likes to join clubs and get involved in various
           activities

oyster wench- a person, usually a woman, who collected oysters to sell

tinker-  a name given to someone who mends things in an amateur way; also
              used as a verb "to tinker"...to play around with
usurer- a money lender, usually at a very high interest rate

vintner- a person who makes wine

IMPROVISATION- by Bernie Katzman