The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #171236   Message #4141016
Posted By: Catamariner
02-May-22 - 06:57 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: The Moon Shines Bright: a May-Day song
Subject: Lyr Add: The Moon Shines Bright: a May-Day song
As Joe requested, here is The Moon Shines Bright, A May-Day Song from Hertfordshire, collecteed by Lucy E. Broadwood and J. A. Fuller Maitland, in English Country Songs. London: The Leadenhall Press, 1893.

The moon shines bright, the stars give a light,
    A little before 'tis day.
Our heavenly Father he callèd to us
    And bid us to wake and pray.

Awake, awake, oh pretty, pretty maid,
    Out of your drowsy dream,
And step into your dairy below
    And fetch me a bowl of cream:

If not a bowl of your sweet cream
    A mug of your brown beer,
For the Lord knows where we shall meet again
    To be maying another year.

So dear, so dear Christ lovèd us
    And for our sins was slain,
He bids us to leave off our wicked, wicked ways.
    And turn to the Lord again.

Turn to the Lord and our sweet God.
    O turn to him with praise,
For when we are dead and in our graves
    We are nothing but dust and clay.

I have been rambling all this night
    And best part of this day.
And now have returnèd back again,
    And have brought you a branch of may.

A branch of may have I brought you
    And at your door it stands,
It is but a sprout, but well budded out
    By the work of our Lord's hand.

My song is done and I must be gone,
    No longer can I stay,
So it's good bless you all, both great and small
    And send you a joyful May.