Drinking The Pubs Of Otley Dry Poem by Keith Shorrocks Johnson

Back home the wives are waiting there
Reading stories to the kids in bed
As their menfolk joke across the square
Being heroes at the bar instead.

Look left, look right, the pubs are bright,
The dales are dark beyond,
There is the call of youth tonight
To which we must respond.

The Rose and Crown will give us sup
And then the Horse and Farrier
So pay the round and square the tab
As we light-up the merrier.

On to the Horse and Bull both black
Though Rose and Swan are white
Across the market place and back
Though skin-full girths stretch tight.

Let's taste the best of bitter treasure
That Keighley brews and taps
And take Tadcaster's measure
As we roister round the traps.

"God Bless Guy Fawkes", a fiery gent
He may have drunk here too
The only honest man in parliament
Who sadly failed to see it through.

"God save the Queen": ‘twas just but jest
A loyal toast is better heard -
And Yorkshiremen will stand the test
In drinking deep to keep their word.