Lyrics & Knowledge Personal Pages Record Shop Auction Links Radio & Media Kids Membership Help
The Mudcat Cafesj



User Name Thread Name Subject Posted
GUEST,TomG Summer Solstice songs? (31) RE: Searching Summer Solstice Folk Songs 21 Jun 21


A bit late as technically Summer solstice has occurred, but midsummer was, in Western Europe at least, often considered to commence on St John's Eve (23rd June) with celebrations continuing until St Peter's Day on 29th June.

In Cornwall we have the Cornish Midsummer Bonfire Song. It's probably 18th century and was first published in 1857 in Ancient Poems, Ballads and Songs of the Peasantry of England. The lyrics weren't always received as well-suited for a family audience and were bowdlerised in the 1920s. Apparently "lay sporting on the ground" made people blush...

The Cornish Midsummer Bonfire Song

The bonny month of June is crowned
With the sweet scarlet rose;
The groves and meadows all around
With lovely pleasure flows.

As I walked out to yonder green,
One evening so fair;
All where the fair maids may be seen
Playing at the bonfire.

Hail! lovely nymphs, be not too coy,
But freely yield your charms;
Let love inspire with mirth and joy,
In Cupid’s lovely arms.

Bright Luna spreads its light around,
The gallants for to cheer;
As they lay sporting on the ground,
At the fair June bonfire.

All on the pleasant dewy mead,
They shared each other’s charms;
Till Phoebus’ beams began to spread,
And coming day alarms.

Whilst larks and linnets sing so sweet,
To cheer each lovely swain;
Let each prove true unto their love,
And so farewell the plain.

(see https://www.gutenberg.org/files/649/649-h/649-h.htm#page169)

Tune - use Dives and Lazarus (the tune known in Cornwall as The Marigold)


Post to this Thread -

Back to the Main Forum Page

By clicking on the User Name, you will requery the forum for that user. You will see everything that he or she has posted with that Mudcat name.

By clicking on the Thread Name, you will be sent to the Forum on that thread as if you selected it from the main Mudcat Forum page.

By clicking on the Subject, you will also go to the thread as if you selected it from the original Forum page, but also go directly to that particular message.

By clicking on the Date (Posted), you will dig out every message posted that day.

Try it all, you will see.