Lyr Req: Mayday / May Day (Casey Neill)

Subject: Lyrics of Casey Neill's song 'Mayday'
From: GUEST,Boocal
Date: 26 Feb 06 - 04:33 PM

I like this song and am seeking the lyrics. Can anyone help?

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Duplicate thread combined.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Req: 'Mayday' by Casey Neill
From: GUEST,Boocal
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 05:59 PM

I had no replies from my last posting, so here it is again, with a different subject heading. I heard it on the radio and liked the sentiment of mixing a day of celebrating labor and the celtic first day of summer. I have a gig coming up n Mayday and would love this song in my repertoire for then.

Thanks for your help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Mayday' by Casey Neill
From: menzze
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 08:33 AM

Hi Boocal

its not the lyrics and not the chords but a snippet to listen to what ya can find

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Mayday' by Casey Neill
From: menzze
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 08:36 AM

Sorry something went wrong my blue clicky... I'll try it again
Have a look HERE   

menzze

Subject: RE: Lyrics of Casey Neill's song 'Mayday'
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 09:56 AM

I found this song quoted in an academic paper called "Environmental Activist Music as Community-Building Ritual" in a publication called "Spotlight on Teaching" published by the American Academy of Religion:

The threads of these traditions are woven together by activists in innovative ways, juxtaposing disparate elements and creating a bricolage of previously unassociated elements. A masterful example of such a song is Casey Neill's "May Day:"

Welcome in the wondrous Spring, and the oncoming Summer,
The festival of Beltane, and the nectar of the lovers.
It's the holiday of pagans, and the holiday of labor,
And we merry meet at the mountainside, and praise the Creator, praise the Creator!

May Day! May Day at last! May Day! May Day at Last!
Hearken the future. remember the past.

So pass the jug of wine, pass the honey mead,
Pass the pipe around again, petals snow from the cherry trees,
And we consecrate this season on this eve with our own sweet copulation.
The joy we share together here will smash the state of the nation!

The song begins with a quiet, slow section, reminiscent of 1960's folk song, which it soon blends with quicker, rowdier elements, blending in more modern energy with the modes of a traditional Irish reel. These subtle but effective musical juxtapositions are mirrored by the ideological ones; activist themes are placed beside pagan ones ("It's the holiday of pagans, and the holiday of labor"), and Casey claims that their pagan and activist rejoicing will "smash the state of the nation."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Mayday' by Casey Neill
From: GUEST,Boocal
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 08:14 PM

Thanks for the tips, but I am still seeking the lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyrics of Casey Neill's song 'Mayday'
From: GUEST,Boocal
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 08:15 PM

Yes, I did get this segment already, but there are probably two more verses. Thanks for taking the time.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Mayday' by Casey Neill
From: Peace
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 09:40 PM

www.aarweb.org/Publications/spotlight/2001-02SPRING.pdf

I haven't the time right now to read the above PDF file.

"Welcome in the wondrous Spring and the oncoming Summer
The festival of Beltans and the nectar of the lovers"

Maybe the whole song is in there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Mayday' by Casey Neill
From: Peace
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 09:43 PM

Should read 'Beltane', not Beltans.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Mayday' by Casey Neill
From: Peace
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 09:51 PM

IT'S there. When you get to that site via google of that address, you'll find it about 2/3 of the way down the pages (there are about a dozen pages). It is on the right-hand side in italics. I am sorry I don't know how to cut and paste from PDF files.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Mayday' by Casey Neill
From: Peace
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 10:12 PM

Found a convoluted way to do it. Here ya go:

Casey Neill's "May Day:"

Welcome in the wondrous Spring, and the oncoming Summer/ The festival of Beltane, and the
nectar of the lovers/ It's the holiday of pagans, and the holiday of labor/ And we merry meet at
the mountain side, and praise the Creator,
praise the Creator!

May Day! May Day at last! May Day! May
Day at Last!
Hearken the future, remember the past,

So pass the jug of wine, pass the honey mead/
Pass the pipe around again, petals snow from
the cherry trees/ And we consecrate this season
on this eve with our own sweet copulation/
The joy we share together here will smash the
state of the nation!

Subject: RE: Lyrics of Casey Neill's song 'Mayday'
From: Peace
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 10:17 PM

Dang. Didn't see this thread. Just posted the same thing on your other thread, Boocal. Same lyrics Jim posted--but not as neat looking. It's gonna be hard to find the next stanzas. Usually, if Jim can't find it it just ain't there.

Subject: Lyr Add: MAYDAY (Casey Neill)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 12:52 AM

There's actually more to the song. The first verse starts slow and speeds up with "dance around the maypole."


MAYDAY
Written by Casey Neill
As sung by Casey Neill on "Casey Neill" (1998)

Gone are the rains of April; gone, the cruel cold.
Old man winter has departed; stories have been told.
It's another mayday come again; goodbye to the rains of April.
Another mayday come again, and we dance around the maypole.

Welcome in the wondrous spring, and the oncoming summer
The festival of Beltane, and the nectar of the lovers.
It's the holiday of pagans, and the holiday of labor,
And we merry meet at the mountain side, and praise the Creator,
Praise the Creator!

CHORUS: Mayday, mayday at last!
Mayday! Hearken the future; remember the past.
Mayday, mayday at last!
Mayday! Hearken the future; remember the past.

So pass the jug of wine, pass the honey mead
Pass the pipe around again, petals snow from the cherry trees.
And we consecrate this season of seeds(?) with our own sweet copulation
The joy we share together here will smash the state of the nation,
Smash the state of the nation! CHORUS

And we remember Sacco and Vanzetti, and we remember Haymarket
There's meal(?) enough for the bonfire and now we gotta spark it,
Now we gotta spark it. CHORUS