THE MAYPOLE (Traditional) by The Oldham Tinkers

Who made the flowers grow, the flowers grow, the flowers grow?
Who made the flowers grow? Tra la la la la la.
God made the flowers grow, the flowers grow, the flowers grow.
God made the flowers grow, tra la la la la la.

Chorus: We’ll skip the Maypole, the Maypole, the Maypole,
We’ll skip the Maypole, tra la la la la la.

Who made the fishes swim, the fishes swim, the fishes swim?

Who made the birdies sing, the birdies sing, the birdies sing?

Molly dancers kicking up a row, kicking up a row, kicking up a row.
Molly dancers kicking up a row, my fair lady.
Cheese and bread, the owd cows dead, bake it in a lantern.
A bit for thee and a bit for me and a bit for the Molly dancers.

When the Oldham Tinkers were kids the last three days of April were hectic. People’s back yards were hives of activity as the little girls prepared their Maypole outfits and practiced their routines, which varied little anyway. This is one of the songs they sang as they danced, unaware that they were perpetuating an ancient fertility rite. The actual performances took place on the first three days of May.

First recorded and published by Topic Records 1975. Album - FOR OLD TIME’S SAKE TOPIC 12TS276