The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #41827   Message #604954
Posted By: Tom French
06-Dec-01 - 12:08 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Christmas's Lamentation / Welladay
Subject: Welladay: need corrections
I am looking for corrections to Welladay, some words which I can't make out clearly on Nowell Sing We Clear #4. It is from Popular Music of Olden Time by William Chapell, reprinted by Dover 1965. I can't get the book in time. If anyone knows the song, has the book, or can hear better than I (lost some of my high end hearing teaching elementary band early in life) I'd appreciate some help. I've bracketed the phrases that I feel very unsure of, but then I may have mistakes beyond that. Thanks,
Tom

WELLADAY

[ Christmas is my name; far ] have I done,
Have I done, have I done, have I done without regard
Where [ the trait men by flaunt there be flown ]
There be flown, there be flown, there be flown to [ love before ]
There they in pomp and in pleasure do wait
That which old Christmas was wont for to be
Welladay, welladay, welladay, where should I stay
Houses where music was wont for to [ be ]
Nothing but bats and [ owlings ] do sing
Welladay, welladay, welladay, where should I stay

Christmas dinner is turned into stones
Into stones, into stones, into stones and silken rags.
And [ lazy money sleeps and makes moans, ]
And makes moans, and makes moans, and makes moan in my [ wee bag ]
Houses where pleasures once did abound
Nought but the dog and the shepherd is found
Welladay, welladay, welladay, where should I stay
Places that Christmas revels do keep
Now have become habitations for sheep
Welladay, welladay, welladay, where should I stay

And the [ shepherd God ] doth deface
Doth deface, doth deface, doth deface [ mother nature's frown ]
And the village [ doth go ] to decay,
To decay, to decay, to decay in every town.
Landlords, their rent so highly enhanced
Plowman and family therefore [ mayn't ] dance
Welladay, welladay, welladay, where should I stay
Farmers that Christmas would still entertain
Scarce have enough themselves to maintain
Welladay, welladay, welladay, where should I stay

Briefly for to end here I do find,
I do find, I do find, I do find [ no festive day ]
Christmas feasting and dancing must wait.
They must wait, they must wait, they must wait for a season to come again
Yet winter the holly and ivy doth give
Carols and wassails in memory do live
Welladay, welladay, welladay, so here I'll stay
Thus where the boar's head and Yule log have been
Christmas again will surely be seen
Welladay, welladay, welladay, so here I'll stay