I'm not Cornish and perhaps am not qualified to comment but I have attended the festival several times and followed the night song too,although I have had to leave the night singing after an hour & a half or so to make my way back the 4 or 5 miles to my lodgings to get some sleep.

In all the times I have gone none of the verses beginning 'Arise Mr... (or Mrs or Miss) have been sung during the day despite some of the them being shown above as part of the day song. However most, if not all are sung in the night song with the other verses shown there, which makes sense if you think about it.

Whether they were once part of the day song but have been moved in recent years because they belong with the night song I don't know.

I can confirm just how moving the 'Farewell' is although its not easy to hear it clearly owing to the vast crowds of people congregating in the adjacent areas.

The Steeleye Span lyrics refer to King George. I would guess that the St.George version is more authentic and is certainly what is sung in Padstow, but when the Obby Oss festival was revived it would have been in Georgian times so perhaps it has changed with the years.

Ursula Birdhood is supposed to be an old lady who rallied the womenfolk of Padstow to drive off French Raiders whilst the menfolk were away, presumably with her old ewe at her side, but the authenticity of this is doubtful.

The festivals are not unbroken, there were certainly times in previous centuries when it was banned and therefore it cannot be certain that the current tradition reflects the ancient ceremonies but the Old Oss seems to be much the same as it was in the nineteenth century.

Many will tell you that the rivalry between the two Osses is akin the football rivalries in its vehemence, but don't believe it. I have seen Teasers in one colour teasing the Oss of the other and that certainly wouldn't be allowed if the two were such bitter rivals.

I would advise anyone interested in folklore or even just a good time to go to Padstow on Mayday, but be prepared to walk in from elsewhere because although the roads are not closed only a fool would drive into town on Mayday. A few years back a Mercedes drove into the town square 15 minutes before the two osses were due to meet at the maypole,only to be confronted with a mass of people in the streets and no way out due to the one way system. The police got him clear but no before a few cries of'F... off back to London' were directed at the poor man and his family.

Not all the locals welcome people from outside. There is a feeling amongst some that the vast crowds ruin things for the locals, but most are welcoming and certainly the shopkeepers, pub landlords and guest house owners never have it so good.

The celebrations and singing carry on in the pubs of the town way after the Old Oss has retired to its stable and round off the day perfectly, but I wouldn't wan't the job of cleaning up the next day.

I hope to have a chance to go again in the next few years.

Oss Oss... Wee Oss