30 Apr 11 - 03:32 AM (#3145130) Subject: Songs for Mayday From: Lizzie Cornish 1 Here's my suggestion: 'Ring Around The Land' by Red Shoes (also the title of their CD) "And May is here again, our town will cheer again, And we'll all pull together, hand in hand, To and fro we'll pass the bow, summer seeds we'll surely sow, Bright Blessings will Ring Around The Land" (Words and Music by Carolyn Evans) |
30 Apr 11 - 03:52 AM (#3145136) Subject: RE: Songs for Mayday From: GUEST,Paul Burke I posted this back in 2002; here it is with corrections: My Mum (1917-2000) was from Pendlebury (Agecroft Road). She used to have a May song that ran something like: We come to greet you on the First of May And we hope you will not turn us away As we dance and sing round the merry, merry maypole ring For we are- Bright as the flowers that bloom in the spring Light as the birds that fly in the air. Once we had a maypole, it was a pretty sight, For pretty Peggy Dolan* was dressed all in white, As we danced around the maypole, we heard the angels sing- When Charley Wink came down our snow- white chimney pot We were gay, bright and gay, happy news I bring. Lady, lady, bright and shady, in the midst of April showers, The Queen of May is here today to bring us all a holiday, A holiday, Bells are ringing, children singing, Here is the merry, merry month of May. *insert name as desired Not exactly a classic, but it was all we had. The period would be just after World War I. |
30 Apr 11 - 04:26 AM (#3145149) Subject: RE: Songs for Mayday From: Lizzie Cornish 1 That's lovely, Paul. :0) |
30 Apr 11 - 04:55 AM (#3145162) Subject: RE: Songs for Mayday From: theleveller Keep the Red Flag Flying. |
30 Apr 11 - 07:00 AM (#3145206) Subject: RE: Songs for Mayday From: GUEST, Tom Bliss Just one of those evenings You'd rather stay at home With a book, a glass and memories Spend some time alone Listen to the Word Service Hear the weather forecast It's gusting nine to ten Deteriorating fast Out of a blue horizon Storm cloud hit the sail I had been sunbathing Hadn't time to bail Looks like this ships is sinking This in an SOS I'm really in the drink Really in distress Mayday, mayday, may-dit dit dit da da da dit dit dit Mayday, mayday, may-dit dit dit da da da dit dit dit err, there was another verse and a middle 8 - but I cant find the cassette. © Bliss 01 05 1980 |
30 Apr 11 - 10:14 AM (#3145290) Subject: RE: Songs for Mayday From: Lizzie Cornish 1 LOL, Tom! (not about the song, I hasten to add, but the circumstances of why it's here) I realised just now that I'd dun th grammor wrong in th tytel. Oops! :0) |
30 Apr 11 - 10:15 AM (#3145291) Subject: RE: Songs for Mayday From: Lizzie Cornish 1 Please could a kindly Mud Elf change the title to 'Songs for May Day'...Thanks [done] |
30 Apr 11 - 10:47 AM (#3145303) Subject: RE: Songs for Mayday From: Dave the Gnome From my home town - Not one but two May songs! The old and the new. I heard a cracker on the radio the other day as well - By Pete Coe. From the beebs playlist it was 'We'll Have A May-Day' and it is still available on iPlayer for the next 4 days. Cheers MP |
30 Apr 11 - 10:50 AM (#3145304) Subject: RE: Songs for Mayday From: Dave the Gnome Just found it - about 25 mintes in. Well worth a listen, but be quick! MP |
30 Apr 11 - 11:23 AM (#3145329) Subject: RE: Songs for Mayday From: GUEST Here's ours: http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_6877237 The Stretford and Northen May song, words mainly trad, tune by me. |
30 Apr 11 - 11:33 AM (#3145333) Subject: RE: Songs for Mayday From: GUEST,leeneia Spring has now unwrapped the flowers (that's the title) English translation of a medieval song about spring. Tune was later borrowed for the Christmas song "Good King Wenceslas." You can find all the words at the Cyberhymnal, among other places. |
30 Apr 11 - 03:03 PM (#3145397) Subject: RE: Songs for Mayday From: GUEST,mg catholic hymn bring flowers of the rarest bring flowers of the fairest from garden and woodland and hillside and dale now I forgot a line the praise of the loveliest rose of the vale our oh mary we crown thee with blossoms today queen of the angels queen of the may oh mary we crown thee with blossoms today queen of the angels queen of the may our voices ascending in harmony blending oh thus may our hearts turn dear mother to thee and thus shall we prove thee how truly we love thee how dark without mary life's journey would be this is a really beautiful song we sang every school day in may and also at may procession..which inspired a graduate thesis cross culturally once .. |
30 Apr 11 - 03:17 PM (#3145403) Subject: RE: Songs for Mayday From: GUEST,mg john mcdermott singing queen of the may http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOH8awmOj4c&feature=related |
30 Apr 11 - 04:41 PM (#3145429) Subject: RE: Songs for Mayday From: treewind Cambridge May Garland Song song in about 1900 by children in Peterborough, here perfomed by Mary Humphreys. We'll be doing it tomorrow (May 1st) with the Northstow Mummers as part of the Cambridge May Garland Procession, a custom which was revived only two years ago after having been neglected for thirty years. Anahata |
30 Apr 11 - 04:42 PM (#3145431) Subject: RE: Songs for Mayday From: treewind Um, 50 years... |
30 Apr 11 - 05:19 PM (#3145447) Subject: RE: Songs for Mayday From: Dave the Gnome mg - This is the one. Easy when you used to be a catholic and know where to look :-) MP |
01 May 11 - 05:20 AM (#3145642) Subject: RE: Songs for Mayday From: Lizzie Cornish 1 'Hal an Tow' - Alan Prosser and Ian Kearey Magic! :0) |
01 May 11 - 05:49 AM (#3145659) Subject: RE: Songs for Mayday From: Jean(eanjay) ..... and a completely different sounding Hal-an-tow from The Watersons :) |
01 May 11 - 05:53 PM (#3146037) Subject: RE: Songs for May Day From: GUEST,ifor The Internationale...written in 1872 to commemorate the Paris Commune and still sung the world over including during the rising of the Jewish Warsaw Ghetto in 1943.Stirring song! ifor |
01 May 11 - 06:00 PM (#3146040) Subject: RE: Songs for May Day From: GUEST,Eliza 'Now is the Month of Maying' 'Sumer is Acumen In, Lude sing Cuccu' The Obby Oss song 'In the Merry Morning of May' 'Love is Come Again' (Now the Green Blade Riseth) |
01 May 11 - 06:26 PM (#3146055) Subject: Lyr Add: MAY DAY MORNING EARLY (from Bodleian) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Lyr. Add: May Day Morning Early To the fields I carried my milking can, All in a morning early, And there I met with a smart young man, Who vowed be loved me dearly, I made him a curtsey, he made me a bow, He kissed me and promised to marry, I vow ! I wish that young fellow was with me just now, On a May day morning early. I strive to forget him, but all in vain, On a May Day morning early ! And if I should never see him again, 'Twould break my heart, or nearly ! I can't bear the sight of a sheep or a cow, I want to get married, yet cannot tell how, I wish that young fellow was with me just now, On a May day morning early. A nice one from the Bodleian Collection, Harding B 11(2386), c. 1813-1838, several later printings. |
01 May 11 - 06:30 PM (#3146059) Subject: RE: Songs for May Day From: Dave the Gnome And don't foget that in 3 days it is Star Wars day as well! MP |
02 May 11 - 07:55 AM (#3146366) Subject: RE: Songs for May Day From: GUEST,Irish Guest That Catholic Hymn mentioned above was recorded by (among others) Fr.Sydney McEwan, a Scottish Priest who was a well know Tenor also and made many other recordings. His recording of "Flowers of the Rarest" used to be played on every Mayday on RTE Radio up to recently. |
03 May 11 - 07:53 AM (#3147010) Subject: RE: Songs for May Day From: Lizzie Cornish 1 As I roved out........ '...On A Bright May Morning' - Loreena McKennitt :0) |
03 May 11 - 11:49 AM (#3147129) Subject: RE: Songs for May Day From: *#1 PEASANT* http://mysite.verizon.net/cbladey/mayjack/mayjack1.html you will find a set of may songs here May Morning Enjoy Conrad |
03 May 11 - 05:30 PM (#3147303) Subject: RE: Songs for May Day From: Joe_F Moskva |
04 May 11 - 07:39 AM (#3147601) Subject: RE: Songs for May Day From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler I like this which was part of a radio program called "Sticks and Bells" which I believe Steve Heap was responsible for (not sure if that includes the song). Change the day of the week in the first line to reflect the current year. THE FIRST OF MAY. My Granny said the other night, "Next Monday is the day To mark the ending of the old, it is the first of May." "Now what's so special." we all cried, "Do we get a day off school ? Do we go for a bike ride down our lane, or a trip to the swimming pool ?" Well Granny sat us quietly down and opened her book to read. "You kids are losing heritage to spaceships, telly and speed. If only for one minute a day you'd just sit down and try To think about the days of old. Don't let tradition die." CH. Like Easter eggs and Bonfire Night and Christmas and New Year, Our Maypole means so much to us, so give us a rousing cheer. "When I was younger and lived at home, my brothers and sisters and me Would work for hours through April showers with ribbons and paint, you see. All the colours we could find and trim them up so neat That when the first of May came round we'd the best pole in our street. The morning of the first of May was special to us all. We'd dance around the Maypole and on our friends we'd call. We'd knock on doors and sing our songs with garlands and banners and chains, And pick up the pennies that folks threw down to drive off the April rains." Her words put new life in our blood, we'd two days left to go. Johnny found a wooden pole and painted it for show, And Susie cut the ribbons up, and Gran taught us the song, And when the first of May came round we'd do it, right or wrong. We danced 'til nine o'clock that morn and then set off for school. We told the teachers what we'd done and I felt a proper fool, But they were very pleased with us and we showed the class the way To dance around the Maypole and welcome in the May. |
08 Feb 13 - 07:27 AM (#3477048) Subject: songs for may day From: GUEST,emmie People on this forum have been so helpful that I'm leaning on you again for a bit of advice. I wondered if people could reccomend any songs that were related to may day? Also any general information about it. I want to do something with my son's school again. Thanks in anticipation. |
08 Feb 13 - 04:02 PM (#3477256) Subject: RE: songs for may day From: GUEST Recently posted in another thread Morris Men Very suitable for Mayday (and taken from the BBC's "Singing Together" so child friendly). Also This thread lists many options, with links to further lyrics. Cheers Nigel |
09 Feb 13 - 06:21 PM (#3477701) Subject: RE: Songs for May Day From: GUEST Wow! so many responses! Thanks everyone! |
10 Feb 13 - 06:24 AM (#3477807) Subject: RE: Songs for May Day From: GUEST 'Welcome in another year' as written and sung by George Papavgeris |