He that will not merry, merry be
With a gen'rous bowl and toast,
May he in Bridewell be shut up
And bound unto a post.
Let him be merry, merry there
And we will be merry, merry here
For who can know where we may go
To be merry another year, brave boys,
To be merry another year.
He that will not merry, merry be
And take his glass in course,
May he be made to drink small beer
No penny in his purse.
Let him be merry, merry there
And we will be merry, merry here
For who can know where we may go
To be merry another year, brave boys,
To be merry another year.
He that will not merry, merry be
With a crew of jolly boys,
May he be plauged with a scolding wife
Who'll vex him with her noise.
Let him be merry, merry there
And we will be merry, merry here
For who can know where we may go
To be merry another year, brave boys,
To be merry another year.
abc |
midi |
pdf
Source: Sabine Baring Gould, 1895,
Old English Songs from English Minstrelsie
Notes: This is taken from the selection of the eight volume work by Baring Gould of the same name, reprinted by Llanerch Publishers.
Notes are not given in the selection, but are in the full eight volume work to which I do not have access. Therefore I can give no information about the origins of this song.
Roud:
Laws:
Child: