While at Cleckheaton FF this year, this fine song was requested & 쳌ethough not having sung it for over 20 years, I was able to perform & recall almost all the verses.

Afterwards the requestor commented that my rendition differed slightly from the version he쳌fd heard [Dubliners]

From reading through this thread, I find I쳌fm not alone in feeling that some쳌fve the lyrics don쳌ft make sense.

This is the version I do:

DANCING AT WHITSUN (John Austin Marshall)

It's fifty long springtimes since she was a bride,
But still you may see her at each Whitsuntide
In a dress of white linen with ribbons of green,
As green as her memories of loving.

The feet that were nimble tread carefully now,
As gentle a measure as age will allow,
Through groves of white blossoms, by fields of young corn,
Where once she was pledged to her truelove.

The fields they stand empty, the hedges grow free
No young men to tend them nor pastures to seed
They are gone like the forests of oak trees before
Have gone, to be wasted in battle.

Down from the green farmlands and from their loved ones
Marched husbands and brothers and fathers and sons.
There's a fine roll of honour where the Maypole once stood,
And the ladies go dancing at Whitsun.

There's a straight row of houses in these latter days
All covering the downs where the sheep used to graze.
There's a wreath of red poppies a gift from the Queen
But the ladies remember at Whitsun,
And the ladies go dancing at Whitsun.