”Inside the Bar" is a song written in 1917 by the English composer Edward Elgar

Edward Elgar

Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos...

, with words by Sir Gilbert Parker

Gilbert Parker

Sir Horatio Gilbert George Parker, 1st Baronet PC , known as Gilbert Parker, Canadian novelist and British politician, was born at Camden East, Addington, Ontario, the son of Captain J. Parker, R.A....

.

It was published by Enoch & Sons in 1917.

In its original version it is a part-song for four baritones with a piano part marked accompaniment ad lib., but it was also arranged by the composer as a song for solo voice with piano accompaniment, and for a group of two tenors and two basses.

It is sub-titled "(A Sailor's Song.)", and dedicated to the singers Charles Mott

Charles James Mott

- Biography :Charles James Mott was born in Hornsey, North London, the son of Henry Isaac Mott, a surveyor's clerk, and Eliza Brockley, a singing teacher. He was one of a large family. His early music was as a choirboy at St. James' Church in Muswell Hill...

, Harry Barratt

Harry Barratt

Harold "Harry" Barratt was an English football player and manager.-Playing career:Barratt's entire professional playing career was spent with Coventry City. He joined the club in 1935, left for a short spell with non-league Cheltenham Town, then returned to Coventry in 1937 and played there...

, Frederick Henry

Frederick Henry

Frederick Henry may refer to:People* Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, , Prince of Orange and stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel* Frederick Henry , Roman Catholic bishop in Calgary, Canada...

 and Frederick Stewart

Frederick Stewart

Frederick or Fred Stewart may refer to:*Frederick Stewart , Australian businessman, politician and government minister*Frederick Stewart , Colonial Secretary in Hong Kong...

, following their successful performances of Elgar's The Fringes of the Fleet

The Fringes of the Fleet

The Fringes of the Fleet is a booklet written in 1916 by Rudyard Kipling . The booklet contains essays and poems that Kipling wrote about nautical subjects in World War I....

. It was first performed at the Coliseum Theatre

Coliseum Theatre

The London Coliseum is an opera house and major performing venue on St. Martin's Lane, central London. It is one of London's largest and best equipped theatres and opened in 1904, designed by theatrical architect Frank Matcham , for impresario Oswald Stoll...

 in London, on 25 June 1917. The song was added to The Fringes of the Fleet songs for the provincial tour of that year, with Charles Parker replacing Charles Mott who had been called upon to serve in the army.

It tells the story of a sailor's longing for a safe harbour and his girl. Notably, with its juxtaposition to the Fringes of the Fleet songs, it makes no reference to the wartime role of sailor or ship.

The song's first dedicatee, Charles Mott, was killed on 22 May 1918 in the World War I action in France.

Three other poems by Parker: Oh, soft was the song

Oh, soft was the song

"Oh, soft was the song" is a song with words by Gilbert Parker set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1910, as his Op. 59, No. 3. It is the second and last verse of a poem "At Sea" which Parker published in Volume I of a series of poems called "Embers"...

, Twilight

Twilight (Elgar)

"Twilight" is a song with music by the English composer Edward Elgar written in 1910 as his Op. 59, No. 6. Elgar set the words of the poem "The Twilight of Love", from Volume 2 of a series of poems called "Embers" by Sir Gilbert Parker....

and Was it some Golden Star?

Was it some Golden Star?

"Was it some Golden Star?" is a poem written by Gilbert Parker, published in Volume I of a series of poems called "Embers". It was set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1910, as his Op. 59, No. 5....

had earlier been set to music by Elgar, as part of his Op. 59 song-cycle in 1910.

Lyrics

I knows a town, an' it's a fine town,

An' many a brig goes sailin' to its quay;

Yo-ho.

I knows an inn, an' it's a fine inn,

An' a lass that's fair to see.

I knows a town, an' it's a fine town;

I knows an inn, an' it's a fine inn -

But O my lass, an' O the gay gown

Which I have seen my pretty in!

I knows a port, an' it's a fine port,

An' many a brig is ridin' easy there;

Yo-ho.

I knows a home, an' it's a good home,

An' a lass that's sweet and fair.

I knows a port, an' it's a good port;

I knows a home, an' it's a good home -

But O the pretty that is my sort

What's wearyin' till I come!

I knows a day, an' it's a fine day,

The day a sailorman comes back to town;

Yo-ho.

I knows a tide, an' it's a good tide,

The tide that gets you quick to anchors down.

I knows a day, an' it's a fine day;

I knows a tide, an' it's a good tide -

An' Lord help the lubber, I say,

What's stole the sailorman's bride.

Yo-ho!

Recordings

• Elgar: War Music Paul Kenyon, Stephen Godward, Simon Theobald, Russell Watson (baritones)

• Roderick Williams, Nicholas Lester, Laurence Meikle and Duncan Rock/Guildford Philharmonic/Tom Higgins: Somm SOMMCD243 Includes "Inside the Bar"