May Day song. Who wrote it?

Subject: RE: May Day song. Who wrote it?
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 08 May 17 - 11:17 AM

I'd forgotten that I'd asked before, it was some time ago!
All the leads that I've followed up have failed to find the author so far. I just keep singing it every year in the hope that someone will know.

Robin

Subject: RE: May Day song. Who wrote it?
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 08 May 17 - 09:22 AM

A couple of other threads actually mention the show and list the programme credits.
I wonder if there are any names there you could follow up.
There is a 2012 thread about the show and with many(dead) links. Maybe B3legs has the info...
thread.cfm?threadid=131612 

And another thread.
thread.cfm?threadid=90980#3405991 


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Also refered to in a thread about where to find a Maypole.
thread.cfm?threadid=84316 

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Subject: RE: May Day song. Who wrote it?
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 08 May 17 - 06:43 AM

There's a brilliant May Day song by I think Matt McGinn, political rather than dancing round Maypoles!
We'll have A May Day Then --- once I find my McGinn songbook I'll cnfirm (or I am sure ekanne will comment?!)

Subject: May Day song. Who wrote it?
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 08 May 17 - 03:11 AM

Back in about 1982 Folk on two re-broadcast a program called "Sticks and Bells" that I think was originally from Radio Oxford.
It contained a May Day song that I now sing on appropriate occasions but I have been unable to find out who wrote it.
I think that the program was put together by Steve Heap but when I asked him about it he could not remember where it came from.

THE FIRST OF MAY.

My Granny said the other night, "Next Monday is the day
To mark the ending of the old, it is the first of May."
"Now what's so special." we all cried, "Do we get a day off school ?
Do we go for a bike ride down our lane, or a trip to the swimming pool ?"
Well Granny sat us quietly down and opened her book to read.
"You kids are losing heritage to spaceships, telly and speed.
If only for one minute a day you'd just sit down and try
To think about the days of old. Don't let tradition die."

CH. Like Easter eggs and Bonfire Night and Christmas and New Year,
Our Maypole means so much to us, so give us a rousing cheer.

"When I was younger and lived at home, my brothers and sisters and me
Would work for hours through April showers with ribbons and paint, you see.
All the colours we could find and trim them up so neat
That when the first of May came round we'd the best pole in our street.
The morning of the first of May was special to us all.
We'd dance around the Maypole and on our friends we'd call.
We'd knock on doors and sing our songs with garlands and banners and chains,
And pick up the pennies that folks threw down to drive off the April rains."

Her words put new life in our blood, we'd two days left to go.
Johnny found a wooden pole and painted it for show,
And Susie cut the ribbons up, and Gran taught us the song,
And when the first of May came round we'd do it, right or wrong.
We danced 'til nine o'clock that morn and then set off for school.
We told the teachers what we'd done and I felt a proper fool,
But they were very pleased with us and we showed the class the way
To dance around the Maypole and welcome in the May.