The Leather Bottel is a charming homage to the usefulness and reliability of good old-fashioned leather compared with the brittleness and impracticality of that new-fangled glass or even wood. Generally described as a drinking song, it may surprise some that this lovely old air also does duty as a Scottish regimental march. The whims of Colonels-in-Chief know no bounds! Regarding a nine-verse version printed in
Popular Music of the Olden Time (1859), William Chappell commented that the earliest printed sources date this song to at least as far back as reign of Charles II, but he felt that it is probably contemporary with Chaucer. It may be found and was our source, however, in
Community Book of Fireside Songs.
This song is included in
We're Only Here For The Beer! - Light by
Dr. Rosteck and myself.