The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #41897 Message #1662539
Posted By: Malcolm Douglas
05-Feb-06 - 08:09 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Waits Wassail or Leeds Waits Wassail
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waits Wassail or Leeds Waits Wassail
This is an old and -until now- forgotten thread, and Conrad's old reference is long disappeared. However, I can add to Al's recent comments.
The Yorkshire musical historian and folksong collector Frank Kidson published words and music in one of his 1887 Leeds Mercury articles. 'The most popular wassail song in Leeds', he said, 'is the following:'
God rest you merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, For Jesus Christ our Saviour Was born on Christmas Day For it is the Christmas time, And we travel far and near; So God bless you and send you A happy new year.
We are not daily beggars That beg from door to door; But we are neighbours's children, Whom you have seen before. For it is the Christmas time...
God bless the master of this house, The mistress also, And all the little children That round the table go. For it is the Christmas time...
Call up the butler of this house, Put on his golden ring; Let him bring us a glass of beer, And better we shall sing. For it is the Christmas time...
We've got a little purse Made of stretching leather skin; We want a little of your money To line it well within. For it is the Christmas time...
'There are many more verses', wrote Kidson. 'The stretching capabilities of the purse are always strongly emphasised.'