Sussex Drinking Song

On Sussex Downs, where I was bred
When lanes in autumn rains are red
When Arun tumbles in his bed
And dusty gales go by

When branch is bare in Burton Glen
And Bury Hill is whitening then;
I drink strong ale with gentlemen
Which no one can deny

In cold November, off I go
And turn my face against the snow
And watch the wind where e're it blow
Because my heart is high

Till I settle me down in Steyning to sing
Of the girls I met in my wandering
And all I mean to do in Spring
Which no one can deny

Though times be hard and fortunes tough
The ways be foul and the weather rough
We are of stout South Country stuff
Who cannot have strong ale enough

From Crowborough Top to Ditchling Down
From Hurstpierpoint to Arundel town
The girls are fine, the ale is brown
Which no one can deny