If All the World Were Paper
from Wite Recreations, 1641
- If all the world were paper,
And all the sea were ink,
And all the trees were bread and cheese,
What would we do for drink?
-
- If all the world were sand-o!
Oh, then what should we lack-o!
If, as they say, there were no clay,
How should be take tobacco?
-
- If all our vessels ran-a
If none had but a crack,
If Spanish apes ate all the grapes,
How should we do for sack?
-
- If friars had no bald pates
No nuns no dark cloisters,
If all the seas were beans and peas,
What should we do for oysters?
-
- If there had been no projects,
- Nor none that did great wrongs;
If fiddlers shall turn Players all,
How should we do for songs?
-
- If all things were eternal,
- And nothing their end bringing,
If this should be, then how should we
Here make an end of singing?
The source is uncertain. I found the words long ago on the web but can find no trace of "Wite Recreations".