THE BERKELEY WASSAIL
(words and music Jon Berger)

With pipe and with fiddle, with drummed with bell,
We sing our Wassail, me boys, to wish you all well.
Long life and good fortune to all who live here --
God bless you and send you a happy New Year.

Through weeds and through snow we have come to your door
A small drop of porter is all we implore
And then we will sing with all proper decorum;
The Yeast and teh barley drive sorrows before 'em.

Some nutmeg and ginger to make us all merry,
Or whiskey or brandy or cyder or sherry.
Strong drink and its virtues our songs will extoll,
So bring us a bottle and fill up our bowl.

Come join in our Wassail and raise up your voice
For now is the season to sing and rejoice,
And number your blessings, the great and the small
Good friends and companions the greatest of all.


As scored, the final line is sun canon-like, with the men beginning (bless you and send you a happy new year, God bless you and send you a happy new year. God.). They are joined after a bar by the altos (bless you and send you, God bless you and send you a happy new year). The sopranos come in after a bar (bless you and send you happy new year) so that all three parts are singing that phrase together to end the song.

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Casey - "drummed"??? -Joe-