Thanks for this, Joe, I've only just got your message. I can't add anything further, as Malcolm (thank you) has posted the original, but I do think "......maypole once was..." sounds awkward and I'm used to hearing "..once stood....."

Lovely to hear more of the history of the song as it's always meant a lot to me, and I'm with McGrath in finding it very difficult to sing- has to be in the right company, who understand.

Noreen