Lyr Req: May songs

Subject: Lyr Req: May songs
From: GUEST
Date: 31 May 03 - 09:28 AM

I'm looking for words to the song with the following lines in the chorus: jolly rumble o, we were up long be for the day o, to welcome in the summer...    I'm not sure of the rest or of the name of the song.

Subject: Lyr Add: HAL-AND-TOW (from The Revels)
From: GUEST,Laurent
Date: 31 May 03 - 10:05 AM

I posted it on another thread which contains other lyrics.

The title is Hal-and-tow
Here are the lyrics from the Revel's CD "Seasons for singing : a celebration of country life" (Revels records CD1095).

Hal-and-tow

It was the crest when you was born;
Your father's father wore it,
And your father wore it too.

Hal-an-tow, jolly rumble O!
We were up long before the day-O
To welcome in the summer,
To welcome in the May-O;
For summer is a comin'in,
And winter's gone away-O!

What 'appened to the Spaniards
That made so great a boast-O?
They shall eat the feathered goose,
And we shall eat the roast-O...

Robin Hood and Little John,
They've both gone to the fair-O.
And we will to the merry green wood
To hunt the buck and hare-O...

God bless Aunt Mary Moses
In all her power and might-O,
And send us peace to England,
Send peace both day and night-O...

There must be a version by the Oyster Band too.

A bientôt
Laurent

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: May songs
From: GUEST,HelenJ
Date: 09 May 09 - 11:54 PM

"Take no scorn to wear the horn!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: May songs
From: Cats
Date: 10 May 09 - 12:28 AM

The Hal an Tow is the street play which is performed in Helston, Cornwall on Flora day, 8th May. The Hal and Tow happens very early in the morning and the players run through the streets and perform it at various locations before the early morning dance.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: May songs
From: Little Robyn
Date: 10 May 09 - 01:07 AM

There's more background on this thread but you'll find a lot more discussion in several of the threads up top.
I believe the words from GUESTLaurent are the words the Watersons rewrote but the thread above has them the way they are sung in Helston.
There is a definite difference between the two versions and they don't work together. If you go to Helston, don't try to sing the Waterson version!
Robyn