MAY SONG

as sung by Martin Carthy on Because It's There.

We have been rambling all of the night
the best part of this day
and we are returning here back again
and we've brought you a garland gay

A bunch of may we bear about
before the door it stands
It is but a sprout and it's unbudded out
and it's the work of God's own men

Oh wake up you wake up pretty maid
to take the may bush in
for it will be gone and tomorrow morn
and you will have none within

The heavenly gates are open wide
to let escape the dew
it makes no delay it is here today
and it falls on me and you

For the life of a man is but a span
he's cut down like the flower
he makes no delay he is here today
and he's vanished all in an hour

And when you are dead and you're in your grave
you're covered in the cold cold clay
the worms they will eat your flesh good man
and your bones they will waste away

My song is done and I must be gone
I can no longer stay
God bless us both great and small
and wish us a gladsome May

copied from Garry Gillard's Watersons/Carthy pages by

Wolfgang