Talk:Fathom the Bowl

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[Untitled]

   My father he doth lie at the bottom of the sea
   No stone at his head, ah, but what careth he?
   While that clear crystal fountain over England doth roll
   Give me the punch ladle, I’ll fathom the bowl

is slightly mysterious. How does a fountain roll? According to the "folkinfo" website the "Clear crystal fountain" is supposed to refer to winter storms, but it is not obvious how this is either possible or relevant to the story. Perhaps the clouds will roll overhead, in a cold country like England in winter time.

Surely the fountain referred to is the sea, hence "that crystal clear fountain", i.e. the one the singer just said his father was at the bottom of. When it talks about the fountain rolling over England it means the waves breaking on the shore. A sentimental interpretation would be that it doesn't matter that the father is at the bottom of the sea without a headstone since the same sea laps his homeland. In that case it should be punctuated with the question mark after roll and a comma after he. Alternately as written you can interpret it that the father doesn't care because he is dead and the singer will drink as long as the sea washes England's shore. In that case it is simply a bit of hyperbole continuing the nautical theme, like the phrase "fathom the bowl." You could probably ascertain which is more likely by reference to the tone of the other verse if you knew them.

I suppose that is all original research but it actually reads as being very plain to me.

In fact given that the website referenced, folkinfo, has closed is there really anything to support the assertion that the verse is mysterious? Obviously whoever wrote this page didn't understand it but that doesn't mean everyone else is mystified.49.181.213.62 (talk) 14:33, 4 March 2014 (UTC)[reply]

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