All music composed by me, performed by me also.
Lyrics originally as a poem called "A Religious Use of Taking Tobacco". Original author unknown, original date of composition unknown.
This edition of the poem was produced by Robert Wisdome, 1568. Trinity College, Dublin MS. 877.
"This poem picks up on a figure of speech -- "All flesh is hay" -- that was the basis for a common allegorical subject of paintings during the 16th Century." - KSU.
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THE Indian weed withered quite,
Green at morn, cut down at night,
Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay:
Thus think, then drink Tobacco.
And when the smoke ascends on high,
Think thou behold'st the vanity
Of worldly stuff, Gone with a puff:
Thus think, then drink Tobacco.
But when the pipe grows foul within,
Think of thy soul defiled with sin,
And that the fire Doth it require:
Thus think, then drink Tobacco.
The ashes that are left behind,
May serve to put thee still in mind,
That into dust Return thou must:
Thus think, then drink Tobacco.
![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/o8ePxuTbGbg/mqdefault.jpg)