The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #137494 Message #3147601
Posted By: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
04-May-11 - 07:39 AM
Thread Name: Songs for May Day
Subject: RE: Songs for May Day
I like this which was part of a radio program called "Sticks and Bells" which I believe Steve Heap was responsible for (not sure if that includes the song).
Change the day of the week in the first line to reflect the current year.
THE FIRST OF MAY.
My Granny said the other night, "Next Monday is the day To mark the ending of the old, it is the first of May." "Now what's so special." we all cried, "Do we get a day off school ? Do we go for a bike ride down our lane, or a trip to the swimming pool ?" Well Granny sat us quietly down and opened her book to read. "You kids are losing heritage to spaceships, telly and speed. If only for one minute a day you'd just sit down and try To think about the days of old. Don't let tradition die."
CH. Like Easter eggs and Bonfire Night and Christmas and New Year, Our Maypole means so much to us, so give us a rousing cheer.
"When I was younger and lived at home, my brothers and sisters and me Would work for hours through April showers with ribbons and paint, you see. All the colours we could find and trim them up so neat That when the first of May came round we'd the best pole in our street. The morning of the first of May was special to us all. We'd dance around the Maypole and on our friends we'd call. We'd knock on doors and sing our songs with garlands and banners and chains, And pick up the pennies that folks threw down to drive off the April rains."
Her words put new life in our blood, we'd two days left to go. Johnny found a wooden pole and painted it for show, And Susie cut the ribbons up, and Gran taught us the song, And when the first of May came round we'd do it, right or wrong. We danced 'til nine o'clock that morn and then set off for school. We told the teachers what we'd done and I felt a proper fool, But they were very pleased with us and we showed the class the way To dance around the Maypole and welcome in the May.