The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #16163   Message #2797855
Posted By: RTim
28-Dec-09 - 01:59 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Adderbury Wassail
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Adderbury Wassail
I happened to be doing something with The Adderbury Wassail (I was for 21 years the Squire & Foreman of the Adderbury Morris Men) and found your info., etc. on the song.
I noted that several aspects were not correct, so I include in this note the Manuscript page from the Janet Blunt collection that contains all the original info. as she collected it from Walton.
This can now also be obtained - online, via The EFDSS Take Six pages on the link below:
http://library.efdss.org/archives/
You will need to "Search the catalogues" and look for the following files
- JBH/11/14
- JBH/12/17
- JBH 12A/17
These are all versions of the Blunt Manuscripts of Walton's version of the Wassail.
I often find it better to use the "Open Tree View" option, there if a "+" sign that when you click it, it opens up a tree of all the listed material, then you can browse to your hearts content! Enjoy!

Below, I also include the words as I sing the song, including a reconstruction of Walton's forgotten first verse, and those additional verses recorded by The Albion Band on one of their cd's.
^^
I hope you make good use of the info.
Best Regards,
Tim Radford
PO Box 598, Woods Hole, Ma 02543 USA

THE ADDERBURY WASSAIL.
William ÒBinxÓ Walton - Dec. 1917
1.
O mortal man, remember well
When Christ our Lord was born
And crucified between two thieves
And crowned with the thorn*

Chorus.
All in Joy - All in Joy
We hope you will remain
All in Joy.

2.
Good Master and good Mistress
As you sit by the fire,
One ha'penny or one penny
As much as we desire.

3.
A bit o' your good vittles ma'am
And a drop o' your good beer,
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year.

4.
And under yonder stone wall
There lives an old red fox,
A munchin' and a crunchin'
And licking his old chops.

5.
We are not daily beggars
That come from door to door,
But we are local wassailers
That you have seen before.

* - First line from Walton, remainder from other sources

(Words for verses 4 & 5 from The Albion band)