104 Padstow May Song

A
THE MORNING SONG

Unite and unite, and it’s all how white,
For summer is a-come in to-day
And whither we are going we all will unite
In the merry morning of May.

I warn you young men every one
To go to the greenwood and fetch your may home.

Arise, Master.. . and joy you betide,
And bright is your bride that lies by your side.

Arise, Mistress . . . and gold be your ring
And give us a cup of ale that merrier we may sing.

With the merry sing and now joyful spring,
How happy are the birds that merrily do sing.

Arise, Master. . . with your sword by your side,
Your steed is in stable awaiting you to ride.

Arise, Master. . . for I know you well and fine,
You’ve a shilling in your purse, I wish it were in mine.

Arise, Miss. . . and strew all your flowers,
It is but a little while since we strewed ours.

With the merry sing and now joyful spring,
How happy are the birds that merrily do sing.

Arise, Master. . . and reach me your hand
And you shall have a lovely lass with a thousand pounds in hand.

Arise, Miss. . . from out of your bed,
Your chamber shall be spread with the white rose and red.

Arise, Miss. . . all in your smock of silk,
And all your body under as white as any milk.

Where are the young men that now here should dance?
Some they are in England and some are in France.

Where are the maidens that now here should sing?
They are all in the meadows a flower gathering.

For the merry sing now the joyful spring,
How happy are the birds that merrily do sing.

The young men of Padstow they might if they wold,
They might ha’ built a ship and gilded her with gold.

The maidens of Padstow they might if they wold,
They have made a garland and gilded it with gold.

Now fare you well and we wish you good cheer,
We will come no more unto your house until another year.

For the merry sing now the joyful spring,
How happy are the birds that merrily do sing.

Source: The Everlasting Circle: English Traditional Verse from the MSS of S. Baring-Gould, H.E.D. Hammond, & George B. Gardiner, edited by James Reeves (© James Reeves, 1960 - published by Heinemann) - pp 205-206, #104 A


Notes: Baring-Gould Version A ‘Taken down from the singing of the man who dances the Hobby Horse’