Now my Mum (d2000) was from Pendlebury (Agecroft Road). She used to have a May song that ran something like:

We come to greet you on the First of May
And we hope you will not turn us away
As we dance and sing round the merry, merry maypole ring
For we are bright as the flowers that bloom in the spring
(lost a bit here)...

Once we had a maypole, it was a pretty sight,
For pretty Peggy Dolan* was dressed all in white,
As we danced around the maypole, we heard the angles sing..

When Charley Wink came down our snow- white chimney pot
We were gay, bright and gay, happy news I bring
Lady, lady, bright and shady, in the midst of April showers
The Queen of May is here today to bring us all a holiday...

*insert name as desired

Not exactly a classic, but it was all we had.


The period would be just after World War I.

Paul Burke