The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #46931   Message #3156169
Posted By: Joe Offer
18-May-11 - 05:27 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: May Song (D Webber) and other May songs
Subject: ADD Version: Joan to the Maypole
This may be a better transcription of "Joan to the Maypole" - I found it at Google Books, page 46 of The new standard song book, ed. by J.E. Carpenter (1866)

JOAN TO THE MAYPOLE.
[Popular in the reign of Charles the First.]

Joan to the Maypole away, let us on,
The time is swift and will be gone;
There go the lasses away to the green,
Where their beauties may be seen;
   Bess, Moll, Kate, Doll,
All the gay lasses have lads to attend them,
   Hodge, Dick, Tom, Nick,
Jolly brave dancers, and who can mend them?
         Joan to the Maypole, &c.

Do you not see how the lord of the May
Walks along in rich array?
There goes the lass that is only his,
See how they meet and how they kiss.
   Come Will, run Gill,
Or dost thou list to lose thy labour;
   Kit Crowd scrape loud,
Tickle up Tom with the pipe and the tabor.
         Joan to the Maypole, &c.

Now, if we hold out as we do begin,
Joan and I the prize shall win;
Nay, if we live till another day,
I'll make thee lady of the May.
   Dance round, skip, bound,
Turn and kiss, and then for a greeting.
   Now, Joan, we've done,
Fare thee well till the next merry meeting.
         Joan to the Maypole, &c.