A Wassail
ROBIN REDBREAST WASSAIL

From the Baring Gould Collection

1 Gude Maister and Missus a zittin by the fire
Whilst we poor souls (Wassailers) Are dabblin in the mire
With our wassail! Our jolly wassail
And joy come to our jolly wassail

2 Little robin redbreast has a fine head
Give us a cup of cider and we'll go to bed
With our wassail etc

3 Little Robin Redbreast as a fine wing
Give us of good zider and we'll begin to sing
With our wassail etc

4 Little Robin Redbreast has a fine leg
Give us of your zider that we be come to beg
With our wassail etc

5 Little Robin Redbreast has a fine toe
Give us of your zider and we'll begin to go
With our wassail etc

6 Your ale it is white, your beer it is brown
Your zider is the very best in all our town
With our wassail etc

7 Your gin it is brew'd from juniper free
Your gin is the best that ever can be
With our wassail etc

8 Then send out your man and let us come in
Give us of your zider and to sing we will begin
With our wassail etc

As sung at Jacobstow, Nth Cornwall, sent me by Mr Batchellor and as heard from a man from (Mavis)?

No tune given

Vol 2 page 250 No 249

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WEST CORNWALL WASSAIL

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O mistress, at your door our Wassail begins,
Pray open the door and let us come in,
 

Chorus: With our Wassail, Wassail, Wassail,Wassail,
                And Joy come to our jolly Wassail

O Mistress, at your door we kindly salute,
For it is an old custom you cannot dispute,

O mistress and Master sitting down by the fire,
While we POOR Wassail-men are travelling thro' the mire,

O Mistress and Master, sitting down at your ease,
With their hands in their pockets to give what they please

Come young men and maidens, I pray you dreaw near;
Come fill up our bowl with some cider or beer,

You see how we'll smile at our flowing Bowl--
Just now it is empty, by and bye it'll be full,

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
A plenty of money and a barrel of beer.

I wish you a blessing and a long time to live
Because you're so free and so willing to give

I hope that your apples will prosper and grow
That you may have cider and a plenty to bestow,

I hope that your barley may prosper and grow,
That you may have beer and a plenty to bestow.
 

Well known in West Cornwall 50 or 60 years becore publication in this source.  "The words which are an intersting commentaty on old Christmas and New Year customs ,wer communicated (from an old MS and from personal recollection), in 1912 by Mr. W. Dunstan of Carnon Downs, near Truro."- Source The Cornish Song Book., (Lyver Canow Kernewek).,"Part 2. Carols and Sacred Music, Ralph Dunstan, Lodenek Press, Padstow, 1974..p.52.