Lyr Req: Floral Dance

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: LadyJean
Date: 22 May 15 - 10:33 PM

When I was a kid, "Floral Dance" was my favorite song on my favorite record, "The Lass With The Delicate Air" by Julie Andrews.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 22 May 15 - 12:46 PM

There is an excellent song, Helston Flora, by Harry Glasson.
I can put the lyrics up from memory if anyone wants it.
They used to do it every single week at the old TopHouse session at the Lizard, with every instrument in the place doing an instrumental break between verses of the dance tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 22 May 15 - 11:35 AM

Thanks for the information. It sounds like a great celebration!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 21 May 15 - 11:37 AM

Glad to have been of help, leeneia.

≈Michael≈

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 21 May 15 - 10:54 AM

leeneia; There are five dances on Flora Day;

Morning Dance : Starts from the Guildhall at 7am
The Hal-an-Tow : Starts on St John's Bridge at 8:30am
The Children's Dance : Starts from Wendron Street at 9:40am
The Midday Dance : Starts from the Guildhall at 12 noon
The Evening Dance : Starts from the Guildhall at 5pm

Each dance is around four miles long. And it is a great honour to be asked to lead the dance.

The Morning Dance starts on the first stroke of seven o'clock chimed by the Guildhall clock. Inbetween their performances, the Hal-an-Tow members parade through the town blowing their whistles loudly and waving sycamore branches.

1,200 school children and college students take part in the Children's Dance. The couples in the Midday dance wear top hats and tails and ball gowns and big hats. The morning dancers reappear in the Evening Dance.

In Helston, Flora Day is more important than Christmas Day! And the evening before is like Christmas Eve. Residents are busy in the streets decorating windows and doorways with bluebells, yellow gorse and laurel leaves.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 21 May 15 - 10:11 AM

Just this morning I was thinking about how to tell 'already' from 'all ready.' It occurred to me that if you can take the 'all' out, then the sentence you are thinking of calls for the latter.

These guitars are all ready for new strings.
These guitars are ready for new strings.
[Sentences mean the same thing.]


However:

These guitars already have new strings.
These guitars ready have new strings.
[Second sentence is no good.]

Somebody tell Joe.
============
MGM Lion: I enjoyed the videos you described.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: GUEST,#
Date: 21 May 15 - 07:10 AM

Terry Wogan – Foral Dance [should be FLORAL DANCE]

I thought I could hear the curious tone
Of the cornet, clarinet and big trombone
Fiddle, 'cello, big bass drum
Bassoon, flute and euphonium
Far away, as in a trance
I heard the sound of the Floral Dance

As I walked home on a Summer night
When stars in Heav'n were shining bright
Far away from the footlight's glare
Into the sweet and scented air
Of a quaint old Cornish town

Borne from afar on the gentle breeze
Joining the murmur of the summer seas
Distant tones of an old world dance
Played by the village band perchance
On the calm air came floating down

I thought I could hear the curious tone
Of the cornet, clarinet and big trombone
Fiddle, 'cello, big bass drum
Bassoon, flute and euphonium
Far away, as in a trance
I heard the sound of the Floral Dance
I heard the sound of the Floral Dance

And soon I heard such a bustling and prancing
And then I saw the whole village was dancing
In and out of the houses they came
Old folk, young folk, all the same
In that quaint old Cornish town

Every boy took a girl 'round the waist
And hurried her off in tremendous haste
Whether they knew one another I care not
Whether they cared at all, I know not
But they kissed as they danced along

And there was the band with that curious tone
Of the cornet, clarinet and big trombone
Fiddle, 'cello, big bass drum
Bassoon, flute and euphonium
Each one making the most of his chance
All together in the Floral Dance
All together in the Floral Dance

Dancing here, prancing there
Jigging, jogging ev'rywhere
Up and down, and round the town
Hurrah! For the Cornish Floral Dance

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: GUEST,#
Date: 20 May 15 - 11:15 PM

PS The author spells it Floral but whoever posted the song at that link called it Foral and thus it couldn't be found by title alone--unless I missed it up-thread and it's all ready (please let Joe know I spelled/spelt already as all ready :-)) posted on this thread. It certainly aligns with the lyrics Alison recalled back in post two, and the authorship as noted by Bert in post one.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: GUEST,#
Date: 20 May 15 - 10:01 PM

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/t/terry+wogan/foral+dance_20895428.html


If it's possible the OP is looking for Foral Dance (note spelling) then the lyrics and author are at that link.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 20 May 15 - 09:20 AM

There are some excellent videos of the Furry Dance & the Hal-an-Tow song & procession on YouTube, I have just discovered. The line-dance in couples, the men in morning-dress and grey tall hats and the women in colourful long gowns and elegant hats, is delightful. Had you noticed that the dance is actually a polka?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 20 May 15 - 08:03 AM

One version, related to Keith's above, I recall sung on an old W Country record (Yetties, maybe? Wish I could remember who -- anyone help?)


John The Bon went marching on
When he met with Sally Dover.[bis]

He kissed her once, he kissed her twice
He kissed her three times over.[bis]

John said to me one day
"Can you dance the flora?"[bis]

"Yes I can with a nice young man
Through the streets of Trura."[bis]

≈M≈

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: doc.tom
Date: 20 May 15 - 05:39 AM

Some say the Devil's dead
And he buried in Fowey harbour
Some say he rose again
And he's gone to be a barber

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 20 May 15 - 05:06 AM

I recall dancers in Bude in the 50s singing this as they danced,

John said to me one night,
Can you dance the flora dance,
John said to me one night,
Can you dance the flora dance,
Yes I can with the right young man/right young band(?)
Yes I can with the right young man/right young band(?)
Yes I can with the right young man/right young band(?)
I can dance the flora dance.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 19 May 15 - 09:22 AM

Hello, Pomdeterror. You asked for the chords. Are you playing the song with other people? If so, what key are they using?

Apparently the Floral Dance is popular with brass bands. Brass instruments favor the flat keys, and the Musescore site has the music in A-flat. What help is that?

ABCnotation.com has it in F. If I wanted to do it with my friends, I would take that and raise it to G, a more guitar-friendly key. Can you do that? Once it's in a good key and you can see the structure, can you sound it out?

(Pay no attention to Richard Mellish. Either he's had so many years of music education that he's forgotten what it's like to be a new player, or he doesn't play anything at all.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 17 Sep 14 - 04:43 PM

Seeing as this thread has been revived (albeit by a request for chords, which always bemuses me, because you can surely choose whatever chords you like unless you need to play a particular arrangement to fit in with other musicians), it seems worth pointing out that not only The Helston Floral/Furry tune and Winster Processional are similar. Long Morris as used in Lancashire is also similar. I regard all three as different versions of the same tune. Given its turning up in those three widely separated places, I suspect (without additional evidence) that it may at one time have been used for processional dances in other places as well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: Rumncoke
Date: 17 Sep 14 - 02:49 PM

'Apple pie' the North Eastern morris tune is - perhaps - the same tune, or the same tune after being carried around the coast from port to port.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: GUEST,Pomdeterror
Date: 17 Sep 14 - 02:13 PM

New to the site. Does anyone have the chords for the Floral Dance?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: Mr Happy
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 08:46 PM

........but you gotta pay £9.95 for the info! - Wot??

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 03:38 PM

The Website

Nigel
(Gratuitous Links a speciality)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: GUEST,zoe
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 02:34 PM

Well, well, Bert - you are coy. Surely we can give the troops a website?
Visit www.floraldance.com, you confused people (including most Cornish postings). The book is by a Cornish singer and musician, Ian Marshall, and believe me he knows everything. You can buy the book online or by telephone.
What is most interesting is that he shows that most Cornish bands play the wrong version of the proper tune, and not even band conductors or players realise it, let alone Cornish people in general.
:-) Zoe

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: GUEST,Bert Peel
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 02:17 PM

Come across this discussion A BIT LATE...
. Best thing u can all do is read a book i got in Cornwall last year called The Amazing Story of THE FLORAL DANCE. I can`t give details here (can I?) so e-mail me at [e-mail] and I`ll fill you in. I think this writer is the only guy who really knows what he`s talking about.
Bert.XX

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: GUEST,edthefolkie
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 06:04 AM

Just to lob a small firework into this erudite discussion - as an East Midlander me duck, I have always understood that the "Floral Dance" tune was really a Morris tune from Derbyshire called "Winster Processional".

The Morris Ring via Google seem to confim this - their site says the tune "Winster Processional" was collected by either Cecil Sharp, Herbert MacIlwaine or George Butterworth and published in the Second Morris Book in 1909. Katie Moss's song was not published until 1911. So maybe Ms. Moss pinched the tune and get the royalties (not unheard of more recently). Or did some Cornish miners working up in Derbys. like the tune and write it up for the Helston Town Band?

(I'll get me coat....)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: Fidjit
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 12:54 PM

Different Katie Moss perhaps ???
Chas

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: Fidjit
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 09:05 AM

Katie Moss! Oh come on. She's not old enough. Terry Wogan got this into the top ten way, way, back before Katie Moss was a twinkle. surely.

Chas

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: Mr Happy
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 07:42 AM

.......think he looks a bit like Father Ted!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: Mr Happy
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 07:41 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBv8Bem8mv4

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: GUEST,Chris M
Date: 23 Jun 06 - 08:05 AM

Hi, I am a member of Lithgow City band in NSW Australia. We have just started practising the Floral Dance, and I thought I would look it up on the web to get some background. Never thought it would be so interesting. Thanks to all of you for your contributions.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: Flash Company
Date: 03 May 05 - 10:56 AM

I remember it sung by Peter Dawson so that is going back to the '30s or '40s. He also sang 'Glorious Devon'.
Ken Dodd does an hilarious version whic involves shooting the drummer in the pit orchestra, and the ' Figure I knew, I saw quite plain' produces the added identification of 'It was Nelly from the Chip shop!'

FC

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FLORAL DANCE (Katie Moss)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 02 May 05 - 12:58 PM

THE FLORAL DANCE
Words and music: Katie Moss (music based on a Cornish air)


As I walked home on a Summer night
When stars in Heav'n were shining bright
Far away from the footlight's glare
Into the sweet and scented air
Of a quaint old Cornish town

Borne from afar on the gentle breeze
Joining the murmur of summer seas
Distant tones of an old world dance
Played by the village band perchance
On the calm air came floating down

I thought I could hear the curious tone
Of the cornet, clarinet and big trombone
Fiddle, 'cello, big bass drum
Bassoon, flute and euphonium
Far away, as in a trance
I heard the sound of the Floral Dance

And soon I heard such a bustling and prancing
And then I saw the whole village was dancing
In and out of the houses they came
Old folk, young folk, all the same
In that quaint old Cornish town

Ev'ry boy took a girl 'round the waist
And hurried her off in tremendous haste
Whether they knew one another I care not
Whether they cared at all, I know not
But they kissed as they danced along.

And there was the band with that curious tone
Of the cornet, clarinet and big trombone
Fiddle, 'cello, big bass drum
Bassoon, flute and euphonium
Each one making the most of his chance
All together in the Floral Dance

I felt so lonely standing there
And I could only stand and stare
For I had no boy with me
For I had no maid with me
Lonely I should have to be
In that quaint old Cornish town.

When suddenly hast'ning down the lane
A figure I knew I saw quite plain
With outstretched hands he came along
With outstretched hands I rushed along
And carried me into that merry throng
And carried her into that merry throng
And fiddle and all went dancing down.

We danced to the band with the curious tone that curious tone
Of the cornet, clarinet and big trombone
Fiddle, 'cello, big bass drum
Bassoon, flute and euphonium
Each one making the most of his chance
Altogether in the Floral Dance.

Dancing here, prancing there
Jigging, jogging ev'rywhere
Up and down, and round the town
Hurrah! For the Cornish Floral Dance.

Lyrics as quoted above are taken from the sheet music published by Chappell & Co Ltd in 1911, with a catalogue number of 6241 (could be an unclear 8241)
The italicised lines give alternate lyrics for use if sung by a man.
NP

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 02 May 05 - 12:46 PM

Jim Dixon's alternatives for the gender of the singer are in the early sheet music (as alternatives!).
My copy is titled:
THE FLORAL DANCE
Words and Music (music founded on an old Cornish air)
By Katie Moss

Copyright MCMXI by Chappell&Co Ltd

The only slight dfferences to the words as quoted above by Bagpuss are: (and I state 'Paragraph' as this is easier than discerning verse/chorus!)
Para 2, line2: "of Summer seas" (no 'the')
Para 5, line 1; "Ev'ry boy" (Contraction of 'Every' to two syllables)

Only minor corrections, but this seems to be the earliest version quoted thus far

CHEERS
Nigel

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: Compton
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 12:37 PM

Now when I were but a lad, at Sunday dinner time, we used to be listening to Two Way Family Favourites and they used to play "The Floral Dance" by Peter Dawson, who was, I believe, an Australian. He also murdered "On the Road To Mandalay"
Stanley Holloway, I don't think, sang it for a living!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 09:13 AM

You can hear a recording of THE FLORAL DANCE at The Virtual Gramophone. It is sung by Frank Oldfield in a recording released in 1924.

The lyrics are exactly as posted by Bagpuss above, except that a few changes were made to suit the gender of the singer:

I felt so lonely standing there
And I could only stand and stare,
For I had no maid with me.
Lonely I should have to be
In that quaint old Cornish town.

When suddenly hast'ning down the lane
A figure I knew I saw quite plain.
With outstretched hands I rushed along
And carried her into that merry throng
And fiddle and all went dancing down.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: GUEST,wizz
Date: 19 Nov 02 - 10:32 AM

I'm also an ex Helston Town Band member! have lived in Helston since I was 4. Flora Day is the best day! It's also held on a Saturday if May 8th falls on a Monday, because that's market day. the day starts at 7 with the early morning dance, then the Hal-an-Tow at 8, Children's dance at 10 and midday at...um...midday, then the evening dance (which has the same dancing and route as the early morning) at 5. an excellent day, but very tiring for the band! they end up walking something like 20 miles.
i'm at uni at the mo but definitely intend to go back for the flora!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Floral Dance
From: GUEST,alex
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 09:32 AM

an interesting thread, I used to play in Helston Town Band and have both played in the band on Flora Day and have lead the Flora Dance when a junior school boy.(with Kelly Simpson).Living in Helston since 1960, I never rode on poles or wondered with the commonolty, but as a school boy, had to gather loads of bluebells to decorate the townhall and lily of the valley for button holes (for dancers). Flora Day is the 8 MAy unless it is on a Sunday in which case it becomes the Saturday. The Hal-an-Tow is the procession that happens early morning before the 7am dance which includes St George and the Dragon. I never ever got up early enough to see it. Type of mumming play Rosie perhaps?
Playing in the band was good though, we had to lead the Midday (toffs)Dance through pubs and shops and houses and always managed to get a few drinks on the way.
I have been in the West Riding since 1989 and if it wasn`t for lambing being around the same time, would have gone back. Flora Day, Tom Balcock`s Eve, superb events.Good memories, but never have I sung the Flora Dance thank goodness.
regards
Alex
Please accept my condolences for the demise of that horse in Hull

Subject: RE: Floral Dance
From: GUEST,Rosie
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 06:15 AM

Suzanne - Will do.
Glad somebody found the words (Online? Where?)
I wuz gonna write them out from memory, as I know the song.
Seems this fred has come alive again.
Going to a folk music festival now, and a brass band trip after that, but will attend to this when I`m bak.
Luv. Rosie.

Subject: RE: Floral Dance
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 05:37 AM

I thing the two lines I quoted above are more likely to be attached to "Dance the Flora" which Susanne has quoted in this message

Nigel

Subject: RE: Floral Dance
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 07:20 PM

Rosie, why do we have to eMail you to get "straightened out"? Why not put your knowledge in this forum where everybody can access it? I'm sure a lot of people are seriously interested in what info you have for us. Please!

Subject: RE: Floral Dance
From: Gareth
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 03:36 PM

But no repeat no more Terry Wogan's

Gareth

Subject: RE: Floral Dance
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 06:43 AM

Or, as it's sometimes sung,
"Dancing here, prancing there
Ev'ry little jiggle makes the boys all stare!"

Nigel

Subject: RE: Floral Dance
From: Kernow John
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 07:32 PM

Brighouse wasn't what they called them in Helston!!
John

Subject: RE: Floral Dance
From: Snuffy
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 07:15 PM

Maybe they weren't caught out. My copy of the sheet music states on the front page:

Words and music by KATIE MOSS.
Recorded by BRIGHOUSE & RASTRICK BAND on TRANSATLANTIC RECORDS
Chappell 60/70 Roden Street Ilford Essex

And there's a picture of the band outside a BBC building

At the bottom of page 2 (where the music starts) is:

Copyright 1911 by Chappell and Co Ltd

WassaiL! V

Subject: RE: Floral Dance
From: GUEST,Peter from Essex
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 04:21 PM

The song is composed (Can't remember who by), one part of the tune is traditional and the other is not. IIRC Brighouse and Rastrick were caught out as they assumed that both the A and B music was out of copyright.

Subject: RE: Floral Dance
From: Snuffy
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 10:06 AM

That's the one, BP

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FLORAL DANCE (Katie Moss)
From: Bagpuss
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 10:04 AM

THE FLORAL DANCE
^^
(BTW its was the Brighouse and Rastrick band, not Brickhouse)

As I walked home on a Summer night
When stars in Heav'n were shining bright
Far away from the footlight's glare
Into the sweet and scented air
Of a quaint old Cornish town

Borne from afar on the gentle breeze
Joining the murmur of the summer seas
Distant tones of an old world dance
Played by the village band perchance
On the calm air came floating down

I thought I could hear the curious tone
Of the cornet, clarinet and big trombone
Fiddle, 'cello, big bass drum
Bassoon, flute and euphonium
Far away, as in a trance
I heard the sound of the Floral Dance

And soon I heard such a bustling and prancing
And then I saw the whole village was dancing
In and out of the houses they came
Old folk, young folk, all the same
In that quaint old Cornish town

Every boy took a girl 'round the waist
And hurried her off in tremendous haste
Whether they knew one another I care not
Whether they cared at all, I know not
But they kissed as they danced along.

And there was the band with that curious tone
Of the cornet, clarinet and big trombone
Fiddle, 'cello, big bass drum
Bassoon, flute and euphonium
Each one making the most of his chance
All together in the Floral Dance

I felt so lonely standing there
And I could only stand and stare
For I had no boy with me
Lonely I should have to be
In that quaint old Cornish town.

When suddenly hast'ning down the lane
A figure I knew I saw quite plain
With outstretched hands he came along
And carried me into that merry throng
And fiddle and all went dancing down.

We danced to the band with the curious tone
Of the cornet, clarinet and big trombone
Fiddle, 'cello, big bass drum
Bassoon, flute and euphonium
Each one making the most of his chance
Altogether in the Floral Dance.

Dancing here, prancing there
Jigging, jogging ev'rywhere
Up and down, and round the town
Hurrah! For the Cornish Floral Dance.

Subject: RE: Floral Dance
From: Snuffy
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 09:52 AM

Wogan sang The Floral Dance, by Katie Moss 1902, which was based on the traditional version. I have the sheet music at home.

WassaiL! V

Subject: RE: Floral Dance
From:
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 09:22 AM

Hi, Folks.

Yo`all are in a mess with this enquiry.

If anyone`s serious, do e-mail me at [e-mail]
and i`ll straighten you out.

Luv

Rosie

Subject: RE: Floral Dance
From: Bert
Date: 22 Dec 97 - 10:26 AM

Thanks Wolfgang,
It wasn't what I was LOOKING for, but what a great piece of information.

If halan comes from calends that must mean that the cultural heritage of the song goes back to the Roman occupation of Britain. WOW! It almost makes ME qualify for the "Younger Folksingers" thread.

Bert.

Subject: Lyr Add: HELSTON FURRY DANCE
From: Wolfgang
Date: 22 Dec 97 - 10:10 AM

What follows is most probably not what you want, Bert. It is rather a variant to Hal an tow, but it is different enough and has interesting notes, so I post it. Found in: R. Palmer (Ed.), Everyman's Book of English Country Songs, 1979.
^^

HELSTON FURRY DANCE

Notes: The people of Helston still celebrate the coming of spring, and by one of those curious quirks of fortune, their melody achieved 'top of the pops' status nationwide, in 1978. Under the title of 'Cornish May Song', it was first published in 1802 in Edward Jones’s Bardic Museum, with these comments: 'The inhabitants of Cornwall, being a remnant of the Ancient Britons, still retain some of their ancient customs, as the Welsh do. This old traditional ballad is the source of conviviality to the inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood of Helston, in Cornwall, where it is always sung, and universally danced by them, on the eighth of May, when they hail the summer with peculiar rejoicings, rural revelry, festivity, and mirth. . . . The custom now is this: at break of day, the commonalty of Helston go into the fields and woods, to gather all kinds of flowers, to decorate their hats and bosoms, to enjoy the flowery meads, and the cheruping (sic) of the birds; and during their excursions, if they find any person at work, they make him ride on a pole, carried on men's shoulders, to the river, over which he is to leap in a wide place, if he can; if he cannot, he must leap in, for leap he must, or pay money. After this rustic sport is over, they then return to the town, and bring their flowery garlands or summer home (hawthorn boughs, sycamore, &c.). They then form themselves into various dancing groups with the lasses, and they jig it, hand in hand, all over the town; claiming a right of dancing through any person's house, in at one door, and out at the other, and so through the garden: thus they continue . . . until it is dark.'

1. Robin Hood and Little John, they both are gone to fair, O,
and we will to the greenwood go to see what they do there, O;
and for to chase the buck and doe, to chase the buck and doe, O,
and for to chase the buck and doe with halan tow, sing merry, O
with halan toe, sing merry, O.

2 We were up as soon as day for to fetch the summer home, O,
The summer and the May, O, for summer is a-come, O;
And winter is a-gone, O, and summer is a-come, O,
And winter is a-gone, O, with halan, etc.

3 Those Frenchmen they make such a boast, they shall eat the grey goose feather, O,
And we will eat up all the roast in very land where'er we go;
And we will eat up all the roast: sing halan, etc.

4. Saint George next shall be our song, Saint George he was a knight, O;
Of all the kings in Christendom King Georgie is the right, O.
In every land that e'er we go, sing halan tow and George, O,
Sing halan tow and Georgie, O.

5. Bless Aunt Mary with power and might; God send us peace in merry England;
Pray send us peace both day and night, for ever more in merry England.
Pray send us peace both day and night: with halan tow, sing merry, O,
With halan two, sing merry, O.

Furry: the word is derived either from the Middle English word, ferrie, implying a church Festival, or from the Celtic, feur, meaning a holiday or fair.-
halan: - calends (first of month).
tow: garland.

Subject: RE: Floral Dance
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 20 Dec 97 - 11:11 AM

Hi Bert- Stanley Halloway recorded this; I'll try to dig up my copy and transcribe it.

Subject: RE: Floral Dance
From: alison
Date: 19 Dec 97 - 09:58 PM

Hi,

I remember bits too..... This was the chorus.....

???(How oft).......have you heard the curious tone

Of the ?, clarinet and big trombone.

Fiddle, cello, big bass drum,

Flute, ??clarinet and euphonium

Each one making the most of his chance,

All together in the floral dance.

Terry Wogan (UK TV celebrity) had a big hit with this in the 70's in the UK, shortly after the Brickhouse and Rastrick Brass Band took it to number one.

Good luck finding the rest of the words.

Slainte

Alison

Subject: Floral Dance
From: Bert
Date: 19 Dec 97 - 11:03 AM

Seeing the reference to the Furry Dance (also known as "The Helston Floral dance") in the Hal an Tow Thread.

Does anyone have the words to the song? The only part I remember is "Each man making the most of his chance
All together in the Floral dance"