'Twas early I walked on a midsummer morning,
The fields and the meadows were decked and gay,
The small birds were singing, the woodlands a-ringing,
'Twas early in the morning, at breaking of day,
I will play on my pipes, I will sing thee my lay!
It is early in the morning, at breaking of day.

O hark! and O hark! to the nightingales wooing,
The lark is aloft piping shrill in the air.
In every green bower the turtle-doves cooing,
The sun is just gleaming, arise up my fair!
Arise, love, arise! none fairer I spie
Arise, love, arise! O why should I die?

Arise, love, arise! go and get your love posies,
The fairest of flowers in garden that grows,
Go gather me lilies, carnations and roses,
I'll wear them with thoughts of the maiden I chose
I stand at the door, pretty love, full of care,
O why should I languish so long in despair?

O why my love, O why, should I banished be from thee?
O why should I see my own chosen no more?
O why look your parents so slightingly on me?
It is all for the rough ragged garments I wore,
But dress me with flowers, I'm as gay as a king,
I'm glad as a bird when my carol I sing.

Arise, love, arise! in song and in story,
To rival thy beauty was never a may,
I will play thee a tune on my pipes of ivory,
It is early in the morning, at breaking of day,
I will play on my pipes, I will sing thee my lay!
It is early in the morning, at breaking of day.



abc | midi | pdf

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Source: Songs of the West by S. Baring-Gould.

Notes:
Notes from S. Baring-Gould.

Words and tune from William Aggett of Chagford.A very early and curious melody of the same date as the 'May Day Carol' and the words belong to a similar custom. Compare with this 'Lemonday' in our 'Garland of Country Songs' Originally doubtless an Aeolian, perhaps a Dorian tune, that has been corrupted and modernised.

Roud: 6913 (Search Roud index at VWML)
Laws:
Child:

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Related Songs:  Lemonday [Sweet Lemeney][Lemminy] (thematic)