It is my firm belief that anyone who volunteers for anything (and I’m thinking SCA or mundane-world things) should take a break after they do so.  The folk-singer’s “year and a day” is a good length of time, and it just so happened that I was contemplating this song when the similar line made the connection in my brain.  The result is a filk of All Around My Hat as a useful piece of life advice.

July 2022

After all of that
I shall cease volunteering
And after all of that
For a twelvemonth and a day
And if anyone should ask me
To take responsibility
It’s all for my good health
No thanks, I shall say.

Fare thee well, long meetings
And fare thee well, high cost
For nothing was I paid
But my own sweet sleep I lost
I’ll sit and I’ll be lazy
Where once I worked ceaselessly
It’s a long exhausting business
Let it go, finally!

The other night I sat here
Till past three AM
My bed called me to it
Like the star at Bethlehem
But I, waking early
As caution advises me
Saw a new pile of work there
Like my own Calvary

And after all of that
I shall cease volunteering
And after all of that
For a twelvemonth and a day
And if anyone should ask me
To take responsibility
It’s all for my good health
No thanks, I shall say.

Take a quarter-pound of know-how
And a half a pound of clue
Experience and skill
And they’re soon asking you:
Please take this occupation
(Unpaid, but necessary)
It’s a trap, beware their sad eyes
Or you’ll soon sing with me

And after all of that
I shall cease volunteering
And after all of that
For a twelvemonth and a day
And if anyone should ask me
To take responsibility
It’s all for my good health
No thanks, I shall say.

After all of that
I shall cease volunteering
And after all of that
For a twelvemonth and a day
And if anyone should ask me
To take responsibility
Just stop bloody asking!
Sod off, go away!