MAY DAY DAY , written by Jean Ritchie.
Susie Glaze wrote,
Jean’s songs grew out of the old ones. When a situation came up that didn’t have an old song to go with it, well she made up a new one. Uncle Jason would say, “if you have a set of words and you want to sing ‘em, well just get you a tune and sing the tune to ‘em!” They sometimes sound like the very old family songs. As time went by, she needed to sing a new kind of song that was original and personal… Songs to express the changing world, her love for her people and her past, and her place on earth – and hope for the future.

Cold and dark the winter, in march it snows again.
Through the rains of April, spring comes stealin’ in;
Smilin’ o’er the meadow in the risin’ light of day;
Beauty is reborn again every first of May!
For when I’m walkin’ with my darlin’ on a May Day Day,
Walkin’ with my darlin’ on a May Day Day,
Oh there’s nothin’ much a doin’ and little for to say;
But oh my heart is happy on a May Day Day!
Folks are cold and distant, the world’s about to freeze,
Never has the world known harder times than these;
Suffering world forgive me and grant me just a day;
I cannot help but hope again, every first of May!
For when I’m walkin’ with my darlin’ on a May Day Day,
Walkin’ with my darlin’ on a May Day Day,
Oh there’s nothin’ much a doin’ and little for to say;
But oh my heart is happy on a May Day Day!

Recording by Jon Pickow (Jean Ritchie's youngest son).