Robin Hood and Little John both are gone to the fair oh:
And we will to the greenwood go to see what they do there oh;
And for to chase the buck and doe, oh;
And to chase the buck and doe ,with hal-an tow, sing merry oh,
with hal-an tow sing merry, oh.
We were up as soon as day for to fetch the summer home. oh
the summer and the May, oh, for summer is a-come, oh;
and winter is a-gone, oh, and summer is a-come, oh,
and winter is a-gone, oh, with halan tow sing merry, oh,
with halan tow, sing merry, oh.
Those Frenchmen they make such a boast, they shall eat the grey goose feather, oh,
and we will eat up all the roast in every land where'er we go:
and we will eat up all the roast: sing halan tow, sing merry, oh,
and we will eat up all the roast: sing halan tow, sing merry, oh,
with halan tow, sing merry, oh.
Saint George next shall be our song, Saint George he was a knight, oh,
of all the kings in Christendom King Georgie is the right, oh.
In every land that e'er we go, sing halan tow and George, oh,
in every land that e'er we go, sing halan tow and George, oh,
sing halan tow and Georgie, oh.
Bless Aunt Mary with power and might; God send us peace in Merry England.
pray send us peace both day and night, for evermore in merry England oh
Pray send us peace both day and night: with halan tow, sing merry, oh,
Pray send us peace both day and night: with halan tow, sing merry, oh,
with halan tow, sing merry, oh.
Halan = Calends, the first day of the month
Tow = Garland
This version from Folk songs of the British Isles,
Compiled Andrew Gant