Does anyone out there have any background to this song? It crops up on a number of Youtube videos where it is usually described as an 'English folk song'. Some go further and describe it as a '16th century English folk song'. A general on line search brings up the same information, some music scores (again with the '16th century English folk song' tag) but nothing more. But it would seem that it is popular in Germany. The Roud Folk Song Index provides no clues and neither does a specific online search for 16th century English folk songs. Now a song written in the 1500's and still being sung today would surely have more historical information about it than the above which leads me to thinking this is a fairly modern creation. These are the lyrics (which to my ears don't have a 1500's ring to them - a bit too William McGonagall):

Autumn comes, the summer is past, winter will come too soon, Star will shine clearer, skies seem nearer Under the Harvest Moon

Autumn comes, so let us be glad, singing an autumn tune Hearts will be lighter, skies seem brighter Under a Harvest Moon

Any thoughts?