Lyr Add: St. Stephen's Day Songbook - wren songs

Subject: ST. STEPHEN'S DAY SONGBOOK-GOT ANY MORE?
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 18 Dec 00 - 08:13 AM

So that you might have the chance to review and practice here is a little songbook for St. Stephen's day December 26. Have any more? Send em right in! Enjoy! If you want to know more about St. Stephen and Wren traditions go to: Clickit here to go to the St.Stephen and the Wren Pages

Conrad

St. Stephen was a Serving-Man
To Play Midi Sound Click here
click for tune gif
                                    St. Stephen was a serving-man
                                    In Herod's royal hall.
                                    He serv-ed him with meat and wine
                                    That doth to kings befall.

                                    He was serving him with meat, one day,
                                    With a boar's head in his hand,
                                    When he saw a star come from the East
                                    And over Bethlehem stand.

                                                                St. Stephen was a righteous man
                                                                And in his faith was bold,
                                                                He was waiting for the birth of Christ
                                                                As by the prophets told.

                                                                He cast the Boar's head on the floor
                                                                And let the server fall,;
                                                                He said, "Behold a child is born
                                                                That is better than us all."

                                                 Then quickly he went to Herod's room
                                                 And unto him did say,
                                                 "I am leaving thee, King Herod,
                                                 And will proclaim thy wicked ways."
 

ABC Notation
T:St. Stephen Was a Serving Man
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:C
AA3|A2^F4A2|B4^c2d2|-d2B2A4|A2A4A2|A8|-A2A2A4|
A2^F4A2|B4B2G2|-G2B2A4|A2A4A2|^F4:|

%  ABC2Win Version 2.1 12/18/2000

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HUNTING THE WREN
 
 

     We'll hunt the wren, says Robin to Bobin
     We'll hunt the wren, says Richie the Robin
     We'll hunt the wren, says Jack of the land
     We'll hunt the wren says everyone

     The wren, the wren is king of the birds
     St. Stephen's Day he's caught in the furze
     Although he is little, his family is great
     We pray you, good people to give us a trate

     Where, oh where? ....
     In yonder green bush
     How get him down?
     With sticks and stones
     How get him home?
     The brewer's big cart
     How'll we ate him?
     With knives and forks
     Who'll come to the dinner?
     The king and the queen
     Eyes to the blind, says Robin to Bobbin
     Legs to the lame, says Richie the robin
     (Pluck) to the poor, says Jack of the land
     Bones to the dogs, says everyone

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THE WREN SONG
Click here for midi sound

click for GIF of tune
 

The wren, the wren, the king of all birds,
St. Stephen's day was caught in the furze,
Although he was little his honour was great
Jump up, me lads, and give hima treat.

cho: Up with the kettle and down with the pan
And give us a penny to bury the wren.

As I was gone to Killenaule
I met a wren upon a wall,
Up with me wattle and knocked him down
And brought him into Carrick town.

Droolin, droolin, where's your nest?
'Tis in the bush that I love best
In the tree, the holly tree
Where all the boys do follow me.

We followed the wren three miles or more
Three miles or more, three miles or more,
Followed the wren three miles or more
At six o'clock in the morning.

We have a little box under me hand (arm),
Under me hand, under me hand,
We have a little box under me hand,
A penny a tuppence will do it no harm.

Missus Clancy's a very good woman
A very good woman, a very good woman
Missus Clancy's a very good woman
She gave us a penny to bury the wren.

From The Irish Songbook, Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem

ABC Notation
X:1
T:The Wren Song
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:D
 A,| D2 D D2 F| AAA E2 E| F2 F D2 D| EEE A,2 A,| DDD DDF| AAA E2 E|
 F2 F G2 E| DDD D2 z| DDD DDF| AAA E2 E| FFF GFE| DDD D2||

THE WREN SONG 2
click here for midi sound
for notation see above....

The wren, the wren, the king of all birds
St. Stephen's Day was caught in the firs
Although he was little, his honor was great
Jump up me lads and give us a treat

We followed the wren three miles or more
Three miles of more, three miles or more
Through hedges and ditches and heaps of snow
At six o'clock in the morning

Rolley, Rolley, where is your nest?
It's in the bush that I love best
It's in the bush, the holly tree
Where all the boys do follow me

As I went out to hunt and all
I met a wren upon the wall
Up with me wattle and gave him a fall
And brought him here to show you all

I have a little box under me arm
A tuppence or penny will do it no harm
For we are the boys who came your way
To bring in the wren on St. Stephen's Day

To Return to the top of this section click here

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Wren Song 3
click here for midi sound
for notation see above....
 

The wran, the wran
The King of all birds
On St. Stephen's Day,
was caught in the furze
And though he is little
His family is great
So rise up landlady,
And give us a treat
Up with the kettle
And on with the pan;
Mr. So-and So is a gentleman
We hoosed her up,
We hoosed her down,
We hoosed her into
So-and So town
We dipped her wing
In a barrel of beer
Then rise up landlady
And give us good cheer,
Up with the kettle,
On with the pan
Give us an answer
And let us be gone.
Give us something new,
Give us something old.
Be it only silver
Or copper or gold
It's money we want
It's money we crave;
If you don't give us money
We'll bring you to the grave.
So up with the kettle
And on with the pan
For Mr. So-and So is a gentleman
 
 

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Wren Song 4
click here for midi sound
for notation see above....

The wren,the wren, the king of all birds,
On St. Stephen's day was caught in the furze;
Though is body is small, his family is great,
So,if you please, youir honour,give us a treat.
On Christmas Day I turned a spit;
I burned my finger; I feel it yet,
Up with the kettle, and down with the pan:
Give us some money to bury the wren.

---

Wren Song 5
click here for midi sound
for notation see above....

The wran, the wran,the king of all birds,
St. Stephen's day was cot in the furze
Although he is little his family's grate,
Put yer hand in yer pocket and give us a trate.
Sing holly,sing ivy-sing ivy,sing holly,
A drop ust to drink it would drown melancholy
And if you dhraw it ov the best,
I hope in heven yer sowl will rest,
But if you dhraw it ov the small
It won't agree wid de wran boys at all <

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PLEASE TO SEE THE KING
Click here for midi sound
click for tune GIF

Joy, health, love, and peace be all here in this place
By your leave, we will sing concerning our King

Our King is well dressed, in silks of the best
In ribbons so rare, no king can compare

We have traveled many miles, over hedges and stiles
In search of our King, unto you we bring

Old Christmas is past, Twelfth Night is the last
And we bid you adieu, great joy to the new
___________
The king was the wren. The wren was the king of the birds. In
ancient religions the king was sacrificed every seven years for
the fertility and good of the tribe. In some places (Ireland)
the queen was royal and married new consorts to be sacrificed.
The consort was treated well for seven years (or one year) and
then sacrificed by the new consort. A wren was killed and
dressed up in ribbons, etc. and carried around the village. This
is from Pembrokeshire in South Wales, commemorating the wren-
killing on St. Steven's Day, Dec 26. Old Christmas, still
celebrated rather than December 25, is Twelfth Night.
Recorded by Steeleye Span on Please to See the King; by Carthy and
Swarbrick on Prince Heathen
 

To Return to the top of this section click here

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HUNTING OF THE WREN

Will ze go to the wood? quo' Fozie Mozie;
Will ze go to the wood? quo' Johnie Rednozie;
Will ze go to the wood? quo' Foslin 'ene;
Will ye go to the wood? quo' brither and kin.

[similarly:]

What to do there?

To slay the Wren.

What way will ze get her hame?

We'll hyre carts and horse.

What way will we get her in?

We'll drive down the door-cheeks.

I'll hae a wing, quo' Fozie Mozie:
I'll hae another, quo' Johnie Rednozie:
I'll hae a leg, quo' Foslin 'ene:
And I'll hae anither, quo' brither and kin.
________________________________________________________

Herd 1776, II.210; whence Chambers PRS (1870), 37, and
Montgomerie SNR (1946), 22 (no. 10). Cf. ODNR 367 (no. 447),
ref. to Peter Buchan's MS. in British Museum (Adds.
29408): "Where are ye gain? quoth Hose to Mose/ Johnny
Rednose/ bretheren three/ To shoot the wren, quo' Wise
Willie" (3 st.).
Gosset, Lullabies of Four Nations (1915), 119; [titled
"The Brethren Three"; begins "`We'll aff tae the wids,'
says Tosie Mosie." -other names are Johnie Red Hosie,
Wise Willie, and line 4 ends "say the brethren three".]
Contributed to Old-Lore Miscellany of the Viking Society
(Orkney), 1908, by John Frith; he heard it used as a
lullaby. The tune was the first strain of The Campbells
are Coming. Date, "sixty years ago", i.e. c. 1848.
On the Wren Hunt see, e.g. E.A. Armstrong, The Folklore of
Birds (1958), 148 ff.; Alisoun Gardner-Medwin, "The Wren Hunt
Song", Folk-Lore 81 (1970), 215-8. -Source=The Digital Tradition
 

To Return to the top of this section click here

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HUNT THE WREN

I've found a bird's nest, says Richard to Robin.
I've found a bird's nest, says Robin to Bobbin.
I've found a bird's nest, says Titipula.
I've found a bird's nest, says everyone.

Are there any eggs in it? ...
There's four eggs in it, ...
What shall we do wi' 'em? ...
We'll sell them to the Queen, ...
She'll gi' you nowt for 'em, ...
We'll fry 'em and eat 'em, ...
I do not want one, ...
"Then I'll eat them meself, boys, every one!"

Recorded by the Watersons

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CUTTY WREN
Oh where are you going said Milder to Moulder
Oh we may not tell you said Festel to Fose
We're off to the woods said John the Red Nose
We're off to the woods said John the Red Nose

And what will you do there said Milder to Moulder
We'll shoot the Cutty wren said John the Red Nose

And how will you shoot us said Milder to Moulder
With bows and with arrows said John the Red Nose

Oh that will not do said Milder to Moulder
Oh what will you do then said Festel to Fose
Great guns and great cannon said John the Red Nose

And how will you fetch her said Milder to Moulder
Oh we may not tell you said Festel to Fose
On four strong men's shoulders said John the Red Nose

Ah that will not do said Milder to Moulder
Oh what will do then said Festel to Fose
Great carts and great wagons said John the Red Nose

Oh how will you cut her up said Milder to Moulder
With knives and with forks said John the Red Nose

Oh that will not do said Milder to Moulder
Great hatchets and cleavers said John the Red Nose

Oh how will you boil her said Milder to Moulder
In pots and in kettles said John the Red Nose
O that will not do said Milder to Moulder
Great pans and large cauldrons said John the Red Nose

Oh who'll get the spare ribs said Milder to Moulder
We'll give 'em all to the poor said John the Red Nose
 

tune from Sharp, English Folk Songs given for Green Bushes
There is a Manx legend that during the Irish rebellion, when English
soldiers and Manx Fencibles were in Ireland, the noise made by the wren on
the end of a drum woke a sleeping sentry and thus saved them from being
taken unawares; this was the reason for hunting the wren on St. Stephen's
Day.

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GOOD KING WENCESLAS
Click for midi sound
click for tune GIF

Good King Wenceslas looked out on the feast of Stephen.
When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight, gathering winter fuel.

Hither page and stand by me if thou knowst it telling
Yonder peasant, who is he, where and what his dwelling?
Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain,
Right against the forest fence, by Saint Agnes' fountain.

Bring me flesh and bring me wine, bring me pinelogs hither
Thou and I will see him dine when we bear them thither
Page and monarch forth they went, forth they went together
Through the rude winds wild lament, and the bitter weather.

Sire the night is darker now, and the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart I know now how, I can go no longer.
Mark my footsteps my good page, tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage freeze thy blood less coldly.

In his master's steps he trod where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod which the saint had printed
Therefore Christian men be sure, wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing.

ABC Notation
X:1
T:Good King Wenceslas
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:F
 F F F G| F F C2| D C D E| F2 F2| F F F G| F F C2| D C D E| F2 F2|
 c B A G| A G F2| D C D E| F2 F2| C C D E| F F G2| c B A G| F2- B2|
 F4|
 

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St Stephen's Day Murders

      I knew of two sisters whose name it was Christmas
     And one was named Dawn of course, the other one was named Eve
     I wonder if they grew up hating the season
     Of the good will that lasts till the Feast of St. Stephen

     For that is the time to eat, drink and be merry
     'Til the beer is all spilled and the whiskey is flowed
     And the whole family tree you neglected to bury
     Are feeding their faces until they explode

     Chorus:
     There'll be laughter and tears over Tia Marias
     Mixed up with that drink made from girders
     And it's all we've got left as you draw your last breath
     And it's nice for the kids as you've finally got rid of them
     In the St Stephen's Day Murders

     Uncle is garglin' a heart-breaking air
     While the babe in his arms pulls out all that remains of his hair
     And we're not drunk enough yet to dare criticize
     The great big kipper tie he's about to baptize

     His gin-flavoured whispers and kisses of sherry
     His best crimble shirt flung out over the shop
     While the lights from the Christmas tree blow up the telly
     His face closes in like an old cold pork chop

     Alternate Chorus:
     And the carcass of the beast left over from the feast
     May still be found haunting the kitchen
     And there's life in it yet we may live to regret
     When the ones that we poisoned stop twitchin'

     Regular Chorus Repeat

-(Paddy Moloney/Elvis Costello)
 

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(embedded images aren't allowed here - I replaced them with clickable links. I tried to fix the MIDI links, but apparently Conrad's Web page provider doesn't allow links to other than HTML pages. Go to Conrad's page - it's a good one. -Joe Offer-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: ST. STEPHEN'S DAY SONGBOOK-GOT ANY M
From: Haruo
Date: 18 Dec 00 - 08:28 AM

Nice collection, but (as you probably realize, but maybe not) your midi links don't work. Some claim to be on the mudcat, which is an html error I imagine; others claim to be at a geocities website, but Yahoo won't let you listen to them ("view" them, the error message calls it) offsite.

Liland

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: ST. STEPHEN'S DAY SONGBOOK-GOT ANY M
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 18 Dec 00 - 08:34 AM

forgot to scrub them! geocities is funny about that! oh well thats why there is the web page.... Click to go to stephen and the wren!

Enjoy!

Conrad

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: ST. STEPHEN'S DAY SONGBOOK-GOT ANY M
From: GUEST,marshman
Date: 18 Dec 00 - 12:42 PM

I don't know much about this tradition. Does the Greatful Dead song "St.Stephen" fall into this catagory?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: ST. STEPHEN'S DAY SONGBOOK-GOT ANY M
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 18 Dec 00 - 01:20 PM

I knew it! Just looked at it yesterday! You will find that there is no particular relation to the saint or to the custom of mumming.

Clickit here!

Conrad

Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: SAINT STEPHEN
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 20 Dec 00 - 08:25 AM

Saint Stephen
click for image

Saint Stephen was a holy man,
Endued with heav'nly might,
And many wonders he did work
Before the people's sight;
And by the blessed Spirit of God
Which did his heart inflame.

1 .He spared not in ev'ry place
To preach God's Holy name;

2 .His comely face began to shine
Most like an angel bright;

Chorus:
O man, do never faint nor fear,
When God the truth  shall try.
But mark now how Stephen for Christ's sake
Was willing for to die.

Before the elders was he brought
His answer for to make;
But they could not the spirit with stand,
Where by this man did speak.
Whilst this was told, tthe multitude,
Beholding him a right

Then Stephen did put forth his voice,
And he did first unfold
The wondrous works which God hath wrought,
Even for their fathers old;
That they thereby might plainly know
Christ Jesus should be he.
That from the burden of the law
Should quit us frank and free;

But O' quoth he, hyou wickedmen!
Which of the prophets all
Did not your fathers persecute
And keep in woeful Thrall?
But when they heard him so to say
Upon him they all ran,
And then without the city gates
They stoned this holy man:

There he most meekly on his knees
To god did pray at large.
Desiring that he would not lay
This sin unto their charge;
Then yielding up his soul to God,
He lost his life, whose body then Just when you think you have most of them....

To grave was seemly brought.

T:St. Stephen
M:4/4
L:1/4
C:Traditional
S:Oxford Book of Carols #26, source Sandys/Gilbert
K:Bb
|G>^F|G2 d>e|d3 c|Bc dc/2B/2|c2 B>c|
d2d2|cB A2|G2 G>^F|G2 D>E|d3 c|
Bc d c/2B/2|c2 B>c/|d2d2|cB A2|G2|
^F2| G>A Bc| d3 B|c2 BB|A2 zA|B2A2|B2c2|d2zA|Bc de|
BcBc|Bc d c/2B/2|c2 B>c|d2 d2|cB  A2|G2 ^F2|
G>A Bc|d3 B|c2 B2|A2zA|B2 A2|B2c2|d2|zA|Bc de|
BcBG|Bcd c/2B/2| c2 B>c|d2d2|cBA2|G2|

%  ABC2Win Version 2.1 12/19/2000

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: ST. STEPHEN'S DAY SONGBOOK-GOT ANY M
From: Bill in Alabama
Date: 20 Dec 00 - 09:28 AM

Thanks--

I had been a bit puzzled by the reference, in Wenceslas, to *the feast of Stephen,* and was going to inquire about it.

Bill

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: ST. STEPHEN'S DAY SONGBOOK-GOT ANY M
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 20 Dec 00 - 01:29 PM

woops.... here is the notation for above... click for notation

CB

Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: HELG YN DREAIN / HUNTING THE WREN
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 20 Dec 00 - 08:46 PM

HELG YN DREAIN- Hunting the Wren

Manx with English Translation below

[embedded image deleted]

HEMMAYD gys y keyll,'dooyrt Robbin y Vobbin.
'Hemmayd gys y keyll,' dooyrt Richard y Robin.;
' Hemmayd gys y keyll,' dooyrt Juan y Thalloo;
' Hemmayd gys y keyll,' dooyrt ooilley unnane.
' Cre nee mayd ayns shen ?' dooyrt, &c.*
' Helg mayd yn dreain,
' C'raad t'eshyn ? C'raad t'eshyn ?' '
' 'Sy crouw glass ayns-shid,'
' Ta mee fackin eshyn,
' Cre'n aght yiow mayd sheese eh?
' Lesh maidjyn as claghyn,
' 'T'eh marroo, t'eh marroo,'
'Cre'n aght yiow mayd thie eh ?
' Nee mayd cairt failley,
' Quoi lesh Yees y cairt 2
' Juan Illiam y Fell,
' Quoi vees immanagh?
' Filley'n Tweet,'
' T'eh ec y thie,
' Cre'n aght yiow mayd broit eh ?
' Ayns y phann thie-imlee.'
'Cre'n aght yiow mayd ayn eh ?
' Lesh barryn yiarn as tiedd,'
' T'eshyn ayn, t'eshyn ayn,
' T'eshyn broltg t'eshyn broit,
' Cre'n aght yiow mayd magh eh ?'
' Lesh gollage mle liauyr,'
' T'eh goit m agh, t'eh goit magh,3'
Quoi vees ec y yinnair
Yn ree as ven-rein,'
Cre'n aght yiow mayd ecit eh?'
Lesh skinn as aall,'
T'eh eeit, t'eh eeit,'
'Sooillyn son ny doail,'
I Lurgyn son ny croobee,'
'Scrobban son ny moght,'
'Crauyn son ny moddee,'
'Yn dreain, yn dre~in, ree eeanllee ooilley,
Ta shin er tayrtyn, Laa'l Steoaln, 'sy connee;
Ga t'eh beg, ta e cleinney ymmoddee,
Ta mee guee oo, ven vie, chur bine dooin dy lu.4

English Translation-
                                   WE'LL away to the wood,' says Robin the Bobbin,
                                   ' We'll away to the wood,'says Richard the Robbin;
                                   ' We'll away to the wood,' says jack of the Land.
                                   ' We'll away to the wood,' says every one.
                                   ' What shall we do there ? says, &c.*
                                   ' We will hunt the wren,
                                   ' Where is he? where is he ?'
                                   ' In yonder green bush,
                                   ' I see him, I see him,'
                                   ' How shall we get him down?'
                                   ' With sticks and stones,
                                   ' He is dead, lie is dead,
                                   ' How shall we get him home?
                                   ' We'll hire a cart,
                                   ' Whose cart shall we hire?
                                   ' Johnny Bill Fell's,
                                   ' Who will stand driver ?
                                   ' Filley the Tweet,
                                   ' He's home, he's home,
                                   ' How shall we get him boiled ?
                                   ' In the brewery pan,
                                   ' How shall we get him in?
                                   ' With iron bars and a rope,
                                   ' He is in, he is in,
                                   ' He is boiled, he is boiled,
                                   ' How shall we get him out ?'
                                   ' With a long pitchfork,
                                   ' He is out, he is out,
                                   ' Who will be at the dinner
                                   ' The king and the queen,
                                   ' How shall we get him eaten
                                   ' With knives and forks
                                   ' He is eat, he is eat,
                                   ' The eyes for the blind,
                                   ' The legs for the lame,
                                   ' The pluck for the poor,
                                   ' The bones for the dogs,
                                   ' The wren, the wren, the king of all birds,
                                   We have caught, Stephen's Feast-day, in the furze;
                                   Although he is little, his family's great,
                                   I pray you, good dame, do give us a drink.
 

* Each line is repeated four times with
" dooyrt Robin y Vobbin,
dooyrt Richard y Robbin,
dooy,rt Juan y Thalloo, dooyrt ooilley unnane,"
as in lirst verse.

2 " whose will be the cart."
3 "He's taken out."
4" Give us a little drop to drink."
                                   * Each line is repeated four times with
                                   " says Robin the Bobbin, says
                                   Richard the Robbin, says
                                   jack of the Land, says every one,"
                                   as in first verse.

Source- Manx Ballads & Music edited by A.W.Moore M.A.
                                            with a Preface by the Revd T.E.Brown M.A.Printed & Published by G & R Johnson,  Prospect Hill Douglas Isle of Man 1896p.064,

ABC Notation
T:The Hunting of the Wren
M:6/8
L:1/8
C:Manx Traditional
S:The Manx Society 1869
K:F
A|d2dd2d|AFD DFA | d2d eee|
f>ed cBA|d2 d d2d|AFD FGA|B2BB2B|AGF

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: ST. STEPHEN'S DAY SONGBOOK-GOT ANY M
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Dec 00 - 03:30 AM

Nice work, Conrad - I really enjoyed your St. Stephen's Day site.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: ST. STEPHEN'S DAY SONGBOOK-GOT ANY M
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 21 Dec 00 - 04:21 AM

any real reason for deleting links to images? since the files are elsewhere how can the burden be here... never understood the reasoning.... its just a link and not as if an image was transferred to mudcat?

Conrad

Subject: Lyr Add: COME MAD BOYS
From: John P
Date: 21 Dec 00 - 08:03 AM

COME MAD BOYS
Traditional English

Come, mad boys, be glad boys, for Christmas is here
And we shall be feasted with jolly good cheer
Then let us be merry, 'tis Saint Stephen's Day
Let's eat and drink freely, there's nothing to pay.

My master bids welcome, and so does my dame
And 'tis yonder smoking dish doth me inflame
Anon I'll be with you, though you me outface
For now I do tell you I have time and place

I'll troll the bowl to you, then let it go round
My heels are so light they can stand on no ground
My tongue it doth chatter, it goes pitter-patter
Here's good beer and strong beer, for I will not flatter.

And now for remembrance of blessed Saint Stephen
Let's joy at morning, at noon, and at even
Then leave off your mincing and fall to mince pies
I pray take my counsel, be ruled by the wise.

We recorded this on our Christmas album. There's a short sound sample at our website if you want to hear a bit of the melody.

John

Subject: Lyr Add: HOISTING THE WREN
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 21 Dec 00 - 08:06 AM

Hoisting The Wren

Hoisting the Wren

       I've shot a wren,'says Rabbin to Bobbin
     Hoist! hoist ! says Richard to Robin..
     Hoist! hoist! says John all alone
     Hoist! hoist! says everyone.

     I'll take a leg, says Rabbin to Bobbin
     Hoist ! hoist! says Richard to Robin.
     Hoist ! hoist! etc.

     I'll take the head, says Rabbin to Bobbin;
     Hoist! hoi,st! says Richard to Robin,
     Hoist! hoist! etc.

     I'll take a wing, says Rabbin to Bobbin,
     Hoist! hoist! says Richard to Robin. .
     Hoist ! hoist ! etc.

Said to have come from Anglo-Saxon times. From
Devonshire. Villagerss wouldsuspend the wren from a heavy pole.
It would be carried on their shoulders like a great burden.
The monstrous bird was hoisted into a waggon
as this song was sung.  Hoist! hoist!
was sung with labour and exertion.