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Barry Hal An Tow: notes? (43) Lyr Add: HAL AN TOW 17 Dec 97


The verse with John the Bone seems to have come from the Furry Day Dance, May 8, celebrated in Helston, Cornwall. The following is from Peter Kennedy's recording of the townspeople of Helston, as they performed a dance through the town, at times passing through houses, snake like in the front & out the back doors. (St Michael is the patron saint of Helston).

Robin Hood & Little John
They both went to the fair-o
And we will to the merry green woods
To see what they do there-o
And for to chase-o
To chase the buck & doe.

Hal an tow jolly rumble-o
For we were up as soon as any day-o
And for to fetch the summer home
The summer & the may-o
For the summer is a come-o
And winter is a gone-o


Where are the Spaniards
That made so great a boast-o
For they shall eat the grey goose feather
And we shall eat the roast-o
In every land-o
The land where'er we go

As for St George-o
St George he was a knight-o
Of all the knights in Christendom
St George he has the right-o
In every land-o
The land where'er we go

But to a greater than St George
O Helston has the right-o
St Michael with his wings outspread
The Archangel so bright-o
Who fought the fiend-o
Of all mankind the foe

God bless Aunt Mary Moses
With all her power & might-o
And send us in merry England
Both by night & day-o
In every land-o
The land that e'er we go

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 13-Jan-02.


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