Song Meaning
This ditty is a boisterous ode to the pleasures of tobacco, painting a vivid picture of a speaker eager to indulge. The opening commands, "Fill some Tobacco" and "Haste away, quick I say," establish an immediate sense of urgency and anticipation. The narrator's primary concern is clear: a pressing need for a smoke, lamenting, "For I drank none good today," suggesting a prior disappointment or simply an unfulfilled craving.
The core of the lyrics celebrates the quality of the tobacco, specifically "perfect Trinidado." The speaker's enthusiasm is almost religious, invoking "the very Mass" and "the rood" to emphasize its superiority. This heightened language underscores the profound satisfaction derived from this particular blend, declaring, "Better gear than is here." The repetition of "It is very good" hammers home the speaker's absolute delight and conviction.
The true magic of the writing lies in how it captures the physical and mental effects of the indulgence. As the pipe is filled again, the speaker's "brains dance trenchmore," a wonderfully evocative image of mental exhilaration. The lyrics detail a full-body experience: "My head and brains, back and reins, Joints and veins, from all pains." This suggests not just pleasure but a cathartic release, a sense of being cleansed and revitalized by the act of smoking.
Ultimately, the lyrics function as a defiant toast to the discerning smoker. The speaker dismisses detractors with a flourish, "Let them go, pluck a crow," implying they lack the wisdom to appreciate such a fine substance. The narrator's confident assertion, "And not know, as I do / The sweet of Trinidado," solidifies their position as an expert, reveling in a pleasure that others simply cannot comprehend.
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