Cornish Wassail III
From the Baring Gould Collection (three Versions)
Version A

1 Now here at this house we first shall begin
To drink the King's health which a custom has been
Now unto the Master we'll drink his good health
We hope he may prosper in virtue and wealth
With our wassail! Wassail! Wassail
Wassail and joy come to our jolly wassail

2 Now here at your door we do orderly stand
Our jolly wassail and our hats in our hand
We do wish a good health to the master and dame
To the children and servants we wish it the same

3 In the friendliest manner this house we salute
That it is an old custom we need not dispute
O ask not the reason from hence it did spring
For we very well know 'tis an ancient old thing

4 Now for this good liquor to us that you bring
We lift up our voices we merrily sing
That all good householders may continue still
To provide the brown liquor our bowl for to fill

5 We hope that your barley will prosper and grow
That you may have barley and beer to bestow
And where you have one bushel we hope you'll have ten
That you may have beer against we come again

6 We hope that your orchards may blossom and bear
That you may have cider against the next year
That where you've one hogshead we hope you'll have ten
That you may have cider when we come again

7 We wish you great plenty and long may you live
Because you are willing and free for to give
To our wassail so cheerful, our wassail so bold
Long may you live happy, be lusty and old

8 Now neighbours and strangers you ever shall find
The wassailers courteous, obliging and kind
We hope our civility you will approve
With a piece of small silver in token of love

9 A welcome kind Sir as we merrily meet
With our jolly wassail as we pass up the street
O welcome kind Sir, if it please you to stop
A piece of small silver in our bowl for to drop

10 Now jolly old Christmas is passing away
He's posting off from us, and this the last day
That we shall enjoy long 'o you to abide
So farewell, Old Christmas, a merry good tide

11 Now jolly old Christmas, thou welcomest guest
Thou from us are parting which makes us look wisht
For all the twelve days are now come to their end
And this the last day of the season we spend

 12 Now for this good liquor, your cider, your beer
And for the fair kindness that we have had here
We return you our thanks and shall still bear in mind
How you have been bountiful, loving and kind

13 Now for the great kindness that we did receive
We return you our thanks, and we now take our leave
From this present evening we bid you adieu
Until the next year and same season ensue

Sent by Jno Barrett, 30, Lemon St, Truro.  "At last I am able to send you the Cornish Wassail song, which I promised you a twelvemonth agone.  Mr JJ Mountford, the organist of St John's church has got the two versions of the music, one from the old man from whom I got the words, but I do not know from whence he obtained the other.  Michael Nancarrow from whom air and words were taken is a native of Grampound and is now 73 years old.  He has been singing the song for fifty years, and learnt it from Wm Griffin and Rd Darker, old men who have been dead near twenty years.  The words I send have been known in this neighbourhood as the 'Grampound 'song, being distinct from the 'Tregoney' and other versions.  The first three verses are usually sung outside the house and, before the fourth verse is sung, some liquor is supplied.  The singers carry a bowl into which all liquor given is poured, and when they leave the home they usually carry some away in case they should meet anyone on their way to the next house.  Should they do so the ninth verse is sung; verses 10 and 11 are only sung on Twelfth Day

Version B

1 Wassail, wassail all round the town
For the ale is white and the ale is brown
For 'tis our wassail, and 'tis your wassail
And 'tis joy come to our jolly wassail

2 The cup is made of the ashen tree
And the ale is made of the best barley

3 The great dog of Langport burnt his tail
The night that we went singing wassail

4 O maid, fair maid in holland smock
Come ope the door and turn the lock

5 O maid, fair maid with golden (tag)
Come ope the door, and show a pretty leg

6 O maister, mistress that sit by the fire
Consider us poor travellers in the mire

7 O maister, mistress if you do so please
Put out the brown loaf and the raw milk cheese
And then you shall see how happy we be

Somersetshire form taken down at Langport by C L Eastlake, Jan 1893
 

 Version C

1 We stand at your door and we first shall begin
To drink the Queen's health as the custom has been
And unto the master we wish a good health
And hope he may prosper in virtue and wealth
 To maintain our wassail, Wassail! Wassail! Wassail
 And joy come to our jolly wassail

2 Now here at your doors we submissively stand
With our jolly wassail And our hats in hand
We wish perfect health to both master and dame
And children and servants we wish you the same

3 In a friendly manner the house we salute
(as version A - verse 3)

4 And to the old town the same thing do we wish
We hope all good folk will not take it amiss
For us true companions who never will fail
To call at your homes with our friendly wassail

5 Come fill our old jolly bowl up to the brim
Which ever stands garnished so neat and so trim
Sometimes crowned with laurel and sometimes with bay
According to custom we'll keep the old way

6 Methinks I can smile when I look at the bowl
That just now was empty again becomes full
By the hands of good people, long may they remain
And live and continue the same to maintain

7 Now for this good liquor which to us you bring
(as version A - verse 4)

8 Now for your good liquor, your cider and beer
(as version A - verse 10)

9 We wish you great plenty and long time to live
(as version A - verse 7)

10 O may all your barley both prosper and grow
(as version A - verse 5)

11 And now we will wish you one great blessing more
That you trees may bring forth an abundance of store
As much as their stocks and their branches can bear
That you may have plenty of cider next year

12 O may all your apple trees prosper and bear
(as version A - verse 6)

13 But jolly old Christmas the merry old guest
(as version A - verse 11)

14 Now neighbours and strangers you always will find
(as version A - verse 8)

15 And for the great kindness that we have received
(as version A - verse 13)

From an old printed copy at Fowey, as sung there 60 years ago, and still sung

Vol 2 page 243 No 254