In message <[log in to unmask]>, Automatic digest processor <[log in to unmask]> writes >I have found a mention of a song, and was curious if anyone knew the >song or a reference where I might find the lyrics. The reference is >as follows: > >"[Potter Hansen of Hyrum, Utah,] liked to sing, and was sometimes >heard singing about the yard as he worked. One song he sang was >'There's many a slip, twixt the cup and the lip'" (Nielsen 1963: >88-89). Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable says look at ANCAeUS: the helmsman of the Argo (and vineyard owner)... Ancaeus was told by a slave that he'd never drink from his own vineyard. With a bottle of wine before him, Ancaeus called for the slave, who says 'There's many a slip between cup and lip'. At that moment, Ancaeus is told that there's a boar ravaging his vineyard, and dashes out to deal with it. Of course, he gets killed. I'm afraid this gets you further away from your song, not closer: a classical reference like this could be anything from opera on up/down. Best wishes, Pat -- Pat Reynolds [log in to unmask] "It might look a bit messy now, but just you come back in 500 years time" (T. Pratchett)