Display Song

Here we come a-wassailing among the leaves so green;
Here we come a-wandering so fairly to be seen

Chorus:
Our jolly wassail, our jolly wassail,
Love and joy come to you,
And to our wassail bough;
Pray God bless you and send you a happy New Year,
A New Year, A New Year,
Pray God bless you and send you a happy New Year.

We are not daily beggars, that beg from door to door;
We are the neighbours' children, whom you have seen before.

I have a little purse, it is made of leather skin;
I want a little sixpence, to line it well within.

Bring us out your table, and spread it with the cloth;
Bring us out the bread and cheese, and a bit of your Christmas loaf.

God bless the master of this house, and the mistress too;
Also the little children which round the table grew.

abc | midi | pdf

Source: Broadwood, Lucy, 1893, English Country Songs, Leadenhall Press, London

Notes:
Lucy Broadwood wrote:

Words and tune from H. M. Bower, Esq.
This song is sung about Anston, in South Yorkshire, and about Galphay, near Ripon. The children carry green boughs, and wave them over their heads, asking for a New Year's gift. The version is that sung at Aston. Compare the Souling Song; the Peace Egging Song and other ditties of the same kind. A Shrewsbury version, more nearly resembling the "Souling Song" is given in Shropshire Folk Lore, p 568, and a different tune is given there.

Bramley and Stainer's Christmas Carols New and Old (1871) version of The Wassail Song has the now familiar words & music.

Roud: 209 (Search Roud index at VWML) Take Six
Laws:
Child:

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