The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #150967   Message #4110899
Posted By: GUEST,TomG
21-Jun-21 - 11:41 AM
Thread Name: Summer Solstice songs?
Subject: RE: Searching Summer Solstice Folk Songs
A bit late as technically Summer solstice has occurred, but midsummer was, in Western Europe at least, often considered to commence on St John's Eve (23rd June) with celebrations continuing until St Peter's Day on 29th June.

In Cornwall we have the Cornish Midsummer Bonfire Song. It's probably 18th century and was first published in 1857 in Ancient Poems, Ballads and Songs of the Peasantry of England. The lyrics weren't always received as well-suited for a family audience and were bowdlerised in the 1920s. Apparently "lay sporting on the ground" made people blush...

The Cornish Midsummer Bonfire Song

The bonny month of June is crowned
With the sweet scarlet rose;
The groves and meadows all around
With lovely pleasure flows.

As I walked out to yonder green,
One evening so fair;
All where the fair maids may be seen
Playing at the bonfire.

Hail! lovely nymphs, be not too coy,
But freely yield your charms;
Let love inspire with mirth and joy,
In Cupid’s lovely arms.

Bright Luna spreads its light around,
The gallants for to cheer;
As they lay sporting on the ground,
At the fair June bonfire.

All on the pleasant dewy mead,
They shared each other’s charms;
Till Phoebus’ beams began to spread,
And coming day alarms.

Whilst larks and linnets sing so sweet,
To cheer each lovely swain;
Let each prove true unto their love,
And so farewell the plain.

(see https://www.gutenberg.org/files/649/649-h/649-h.htm#page169)

Tune - use Dives and Lazarus (the tune known in Cornwall as The Marigold)