In another thread, Martin Graebe mentioned that one of his songs had been posted here and identified as "traditional." I hope this corrects that matter. Sorry about the confusion, Martin.
-Joe Offer-

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JACK IN THE GREEN
(Martin Graebe)

1. Now winter is over I'm happy to say
And we're all met again in our ribbons so gay
And we're all met again, to rejoice in the spring
And to go about dancing with Jack in the Green
Jack in the Green, Jack in the Green
And we'll all dance each springtime with Jack in the Green

2. Now Jack in the Green is a very strange man
Though he dies every autumn, he's born every spring
And each year on his birthday, we will dance through the street
And in return Jacky will ripen our wheat
Jack in the Green, Jack in the Green
And we'll all dance each springtime with Jack in the Green

3. Now all you young maidens I'd have you beware
Of touching young Jack, for there's strange powers there.
For if you but touch him, there is many will tell
Like the wheat in our fields so your belly will swell.
Jack in the Green, Jack in the Green
And we'll all dance each springtime with Jack in the Green

4. With his mantle he'll cover the trees that are bare
Our gardens he'll trim with his jacket so fair
But our fields he will sow with the hair on his head
And our grain it will ripen till old Jack is dead
Jack in the Green, Jack in the Green
And we'll all dance each springtime with Jack in the Green

5. Now the sun is half up and it signals the hour
That the children arrive with their garlands of flowers
So now let the music and dancing begin
And touch the good heart of young Jack in the Green
Jack in the Green, Jack in the Green
And we'll all dance each springtime with Jack in the Green


Jack in the Green was written & copyrighted by Martin Graebe in 1972. BF
This is the original version of the song, as posted by Graebe on his Website, http://www.btinternet.com/~greenjack.


Graebe's notes: This song was written when Cherri and I were living to the east of Exeter in the area that is marked on the Ordnance Survey map as "Jack in the Green." We were also drinking fairly often in the pub of the same name and the connection led to the above bit of fantasy based on traditional themes. A number of people have told me at different times that they have heard "Jack in the Green" described as a traditional song. It was the first of my songs to turn up on the Internet, where it was described on the Digital Tradition database as a traditional song. Most recently, someone told me about an American CD of pagan music that includes Jack as an example of a traditional pagan song from the British Isles.