Hark! 2011
December 23
Gloucestershire Wassail
Performed by Greg Barlow on banjo and voice
Words and music: English traditional
I learned the "Gloucestershire Wassail" for Hark last year, and it has quickly become one of my favorites. This wassailing song has a very catchy tune which is a lot of fun to play on the banjo. I recorded this in the key of F.
Lyrics
Wassail, wassail all over the town!
Our toast it is white, and our ale it is brown,
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree;
With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.
So here is to Cherry and to his right cheek,
Pray God send our master a good piece of beef,
And a good piece of beef that may we all see;
With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.
And here is to Dobbin and to his right eye,
Pray God send our master a good Christmas pie,
And a good Christmas pie that may we all see'
With our wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.
So here is to Broad Mary and to her broad horn,
May God send our master a good crop of corn,
And a good crop of corn that may we all see;
With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.
And here is to Fillpail and to her left ear,
Pray God send our master a happy New Year,
And a happy New Year as e'er he did see;
With our wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.
And here is to Colly and to her long tail,
Pray God send our master he never may fail
A bowl of strong beer; I pray you draw near,
And our jolly wassail it's then you shall hear.
Come butler, come fill us a bowl of the best,
Then we hope that your soul in heaven may rest;
But if you do draw us a bowl of the small,
Then down shall go butler, bowl and all.
Then here's to the maid in the lily white smock,
Who tripped to the door and slipped back the lock!
Who tripped to the door and pulled back the pin,
For to let these jolly wassailers in.
Sources and more information
- Oxford Book of Carols, 1964.
- Hymns and Carols of Christmas
- Digital Tradition
