1. |
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The Shropshire Wakes: Or Hey For Christmas
Being the Delightful Sports of most Countries.
Come Robin Ralph, and little Harry,
and merry Thomas at our Green,
Where he shall meet with Bridget and Sary,
and the finest young wenches that ere were seen:
Then hey for Christmas once a year
And where we have Cakes, both ale and beer,
And to our Christmas feast there comes,
Young men and Maid to shake their bums.
For Gammer Nichols has gotten a Custard
My Neighbour Wood a roasted Pig,
And Widow Franklin hath beer & mustard,
& at the Thatcht house there is good swig.
Then hey for Christmas etc.
There's a fiddler for to play e'ry Dance
when the young Lads and Lasses meet:
With which the Men & Maids will prance,
with the fiddler before them down the street:
The Morice dancers will be ready,
Meat and Drink enough to lade ye:
And in a Fools dress will be little Neddy,
to entertain our Christmas Lady:
And when that they shall all appear,
that are to be at our brave Wakes,
To eat up the Meat, and drink up the Beer,
And to play at cards for Ale and Cakes:
Then hey for Christmas etc.
They side and then tun round about
and briskly trip it to each other:
And when they have danct it out,
they presently call for another:
Then they sat down to their good cheer,
and pleasant were both Maids and Men,
And having din d and drank their bear,
they rose and went to dance again,
Thus they did daunce from noon till night,
and were as merry as Cup and Can,
Till they had tired the Fiddler quite,
and the sweat down their buttocks ran.
Then they went to the little thatcht house,
and plaid at Cards a game or two,
And with the good Liquor did so carouse,
that they made drunk both Tom and Hugh.
Who took the Fiddler and broke his pate
and threw his fiddle into the fire:
And drunkenly went home so late,
that most of them fell in the mire.
Then hey for Christmas etc
Anon: Douce Ballads, 17th Century
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2. |
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This day our Saviour Christ was born
at Bethlem in a common inn,
On Calvary was his body torn
to pay the pain the ransom of our sin.
Nay, from the manger to the cross,
he made his life a mystic story,
And of his blood he thought no loss,
to bring his enemies to glory.
His life hath buried all our sins,
his death our endless glory wins.
Then let us carol to his praise
the choicest of our holy lays,
And thus inflamed with melting fire,
the saints will chant it in our choir.
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3. |
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A song of joy unto the Lord we sing, and publish forth the favours he hath shown:
We sing his praise, from whom all joy doth spring, And tell abroad the wonders he hath done;
For such were never since the world begun.
His love therefore, oh let us all confess and all the sons of man his works express.
As on this day the Son of God was born, the blessed Word was then incarnate made;
The Lord to be a servant held no scorn, the Godhead was with human nature clad,
And flesh a throne above all Angels had.
His love therefore, oh let us all confess and all the sons of man his works express.
The Lamb hath played devouring wolves among; the morning star of Jacob doth appear; from Jesse’s root our tree of life is sprung, and all God’s works (in him) fulfilled are:
Yet we are slack his praises to declare.
His love therefore, oh let us all confess and all the sons of man his works express.
George Wither, 1623
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4. |
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Ane sang of the birth of Christ
I come from Heaven high to tell
the best Nowells that e’er befell.
To you their tidings true I bring,
And I will of them say and sing,
This day to you is born a child
Of Mary meek, and Virgin mild,
This blessed babe, benign and kind
Shall you rejoice both heart and mind.
Let us rejoice and be blithe,
And with the herdsmen go full swift,
And see what God of his grace hath done,
Through Christ to bring us to his throne,
My soul and life, stand up and see,
Who lies in a crib of tree,
What babe is that, so good and fair?
It is Christ, God’s son and heir.
God that made all creature,
How art thou now become so poor,
That on the hay and straw will lie,
Amongst the asses, oxen and kine?
And were the world ten times so wide,
Clad over with gold and stars of pride,
Unworthy then it were to thee
Under thy feet a stool to be.
Oh my dear heart, young Jesus sweet,
Prepare thy cradle in my sprit,
And I shall rock thee in my heart,
And never more from thee depart,
But I shall praise thee evermore,
With songs sweet unto thy gloir,
The knees of my heart shall I bow,
And sing that right Balulalow.
Alexander Wedderburn: The Gude and Godlie Ballatis, 1567
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5. |
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Sweet was the song the Virgin sang when she to Bethlem was come,
And was delivered of her son who blessed Jesu had to name.
“Lullaby, sweet babe,” quoth she, “my son, and eke a Saviour born,
Who hath vouchsafed from on high to visit us that were forlorn,
Lullaby, sweet babe,” sang she, and sweetly rockt him on her knee.
John Attey: First book of Ayres, 1622
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6. |
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The Angels’ Song
Run, Shepherds, run where Bethlem blest appears,
We bring the best of news, be not dismayed:
A Saviour there is born, more old than years
Amidst Heaven's rolling heights this earth who stayed;
In a poor cottage inned, a Virgin Maid,
A weakling did Him bear, who all upbears,
There is He poorly swaddled, in a manger laid
To whom too narrow swaddlings are our spheres:
Run, Shepherds, run, and solemnize His birth.
This is that night – no, day grown great with bliss,
In which the power of Satan broken is;
In Heaven be glory, peace unto the Earth,
Thus singing through the air the angels swam,
A cope of stars re-echoed the same.
William Drummond: Flowers of Sion, 1623
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7. |
As I outrode
02:10
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As I outrode out this enderes night,
Of three jolly shepherds I saw a sight
And all about their fold a star shone bright;
They sang, Terli, terlow;
So merrily the shepherds their pipes can blow.
Down from heaven, from heaven so high,
Of angels there came a great company.
With mirth, and joy, and great solemnity
They sang, Terli, terlow;
So merrily the shepherds their pipes can blow.
The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors, 1534
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8. |
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A Carol for Christmas Day at Night
My master and dame, I well perceive are purposed to be merry tonight,
And willingly have given me leave to combat with a Christmas knight.
Sir Pig, I see, comes prancing in and bids me draw if that I dare;
I care not for his valour a pin, for Jack of him will have a share.
My Lady Goose among the rest upon the table takes her place,
And piping-hot bids me do my best, and bravely looks me in the face:
For pigs and geese are gallant cheer, God bless my master and dame therefore!
I trust before the next new year to eat my part of half a score.
I likewise see good minced pie here standing swaggering on the table:
The lofty walls so large and high I’ll level down if I be able;
For they be furnished with good plums, and spiced well with pepper and salt,
Every prune as big as both my thumbs to drive down bravely the juice of malt.
Fill me some more of your Christmas beer, your pepper sets my mouth on heat,
And Jack’s a-dry with your good cheer, give me some good ale to my meat.
And for the plenty of this house, God keep it thus well-stored always;
Come, butler, fill me a good carouse, and so we’ll end our Christmas Day.
New Christmas Carols, 1662
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9. |
The little barley-corn
01:45
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The Little Barley-Corn
Come and do not musing stand, if thou the truth discern,
But take a full cup in thy hand, and thus begin to learn,
Not of the earth, nor of the air, at evening or at morn,
But jovial boys your Christmas keep, with the little Barley-Corn.
It is the cunningst alchymist that ere was in the land;
'Twill change your metal, when it list, in the turning of the hand,
Your blushing gold to silver wan, your silver into brass;
'Twill turn a tailor to a man, and a man into an ass.
If sickness come this physic take, it from your heart will set it;
If fear encroach, take more of it, your heart will soon forget it:
Apollo and the Muses nine, doe take it in no scorn;
There's no such stuff to pass the time as the little Barley-Corn.
'Twill make a weeping widow laugh, and soon incline to pleasure;
'Twill make an old man leave his staff, and dance a youthful measure:
And though your clothes be ne'er so bad all ragged rent and torn,
Against the cold you may be clad with the little Barley-Corn.
Thus the Barley-Corn hath power even for to change our nature,
And make a shrew, within an hour, prove a kind-hearted creature:
And therefore here, I say again, let no man tak't in scorn
That I the virtues doe proclaim of the little Barley-Corn.
Roxburghe Ballads, c1618
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10. |
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11. |
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The Little Barley-Corn
Come and do not musing stand, if thou the truth discern,
But take a full cup in thy hand, and thus begin to learn,
Not of the earth, nor of the air, at evening or at morn,
But jovial boys your Christmas keep, with the little Barley-Corn.
It is the cunningst alchymist that ere was in the land;
'Twill change your metal, when it list, in the turning of the hand,
Your blushing gold to silver wan, your silver into brass;
'Twill turn a tailor to a man, and a man into an ass.
If sickness come this physic take, it from your heart will set it;
If fear encroach, take more of it, your heart will soon forget it:
Apollo and the Muses nine, doe take it in no scorn;
There's no such stuff to pass the time as the little Barley-Corn.
'Twill make a weeping widow laugh, and soon incline to pleasure;
'Twill make an old man leave his staff, and dance a youthful measure:
And though your clothes be ne'er so bad all ragged rent and torn,
Against the cold you may be clad with the little Barley-Corn.
Thus the Barley-Corn hath power even for to change our nature,
And make a shrew, within an hour, prove a kind-hearted creature:
And therefore here, I say again, let no man tak't in scorn
That I the virtues doe proclaim of the little Barley-Corn.
Roxburghe Ballads, c1618
A Carol for St Stephen’s Day
With merry glee and solace, this second day of Christmas
Now comes in bravely to my master’s house,
With plenty of good cheer I see, with that which most contenteth me,
As brawn and bacon, powder’d beef and souse.
For the love of St Stephen, that blessed saint of Heaven,
Which stoned was for Jesus Christ his sake,
Let us all both more and less cast away all heaviness,
And in a sober manner merry make.
So let our mirth be civil, that not one thought of evil,
May take possession of our hearts at all,
So shall we love and favour get of those that kindly thus do set
Their bounties here so freely in this hall.
New Carolls for the Mery Time of Christmas, 1661
A Carol for St John’s Day
In honour of Saint John we thus do keep good Christmas cheer;
And he that comes to dine with us, I think he need not spare.
The butcher he hath killed good beef, the caterer brings it in;
But Christmas pies are still the chief if that I durst begin.
Our bacon hogs are full and fat to make us brawn and souse;
Full well may I reject thereat to see them in the house
But yet the minced pie it is that sets my teeth on water;
Good mistress, let me have a bit, for I do long thereafter.
And I will fetch your water in to brew and bake withal,
Your love and favour still to win when as you please to call.
Then grant me, dame your love and leave to taste your pie-meat here;
It is the best in my conceit of all your Christmas-cheer.
The cloves and mace and gallant plums that here on heaps do lie,
And prunes as big as both my thumbs, enticeth much mine eye.
Oh, let me eat my belly-full of your good Christmas-pie;
Except thereat I have a pull, I think I sure shall die.
New Carrolls for this Merry Time of Christmas, 1661
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12. |
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A Carol for Innocents’ Day
Remember Herod’s rage, who slain those infants dear,
There nothing could assuage his wrath which was severe;
But shedding of those infants’ blood, to end his hateful strife,
That he thereby might cause to die the blessed Lord of life.
An angel in the night warned Joseph in a dream
To take a speedy flight, since Herod’s vast extreme
Of hateful cruelty was such to seek the infants’ life,
“Take Mary mild, and her sweet child, avoid this hateful strife.”
New Carrolls for the Merry Time of Christmas, 1661
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13. |
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A carol for New-Year’s Day
The young men and maids on New Year's Day, their loves they will present
With many a gift both fine and gay, which gives them true content:
And though the gift be great or small, yet this is the custom still
Expressing their loves in ribbons and gloves, it being their kind good-will.
Fine ruffs, cravats of curious lace maids give them fine and neat;
For this the young men will them embrace with tender kisses sweet:
And give them many pleasant toys to deck them fine and gay,
As bodkins and rings with other fine things for the honour of New Year's day.
A Cabinet of Choice Jewels, or The Christian's Joy and Gladness, 1688
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14. |
The new year's gift
02:28
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15. |
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A Willow Garland sent for a New-Year’s Gift
A willow garland thou did'st send perfum'd, last day, to me,
Which did but only this portend— I was forsook by thee.
Since so it is, I'll tell thee what, to-morrow thou shalt see
Me wear the willow; after that, to die upon the tree.
As beasts unto the altars go with garlands dress'd, so I
Will, with my willow-wreath, also come forth and sweetly die.
Robert Herrick: Hesperides, 1648
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16. |
Wassail, wassail
01:46
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Wassail, wassail, our jolly wassail is thus to be understood,
Tis a health to the good, but the bad it doth provoke ‘em
With the slanders and lies and projects they devise, the Devil choke ‘em,
With a wassail, a jolly wassail.
Bring the wassail bowl away, and cast yourselves into a ring.
Give the ale leave to wave the spice, room to play,
And hush, no words but what we sing.
Kneel down, and drink a health unto the King.
With peace and mirth, and wealth to the state,
Drink in wood to our drinking in plate.
Anon, 17thC
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17. |
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A Carol for Twelfth Day
Now farewell, good Christmas, adieu and adieu,
I needs now must leave thee, and look for a new;
For till thou returnest, I linger in pain,
And I care now how quickly thou comest again.
But ere thou departest I purpose to see
What merry good pastime this day will show me;
For a king of the wassail this night we must choose,
Or else the old customs we carelessly lose.
The wassail well spiced about shall go round,
Thou it cost my good master best part of a pound:
The main in the buttery stands ready to fill
Her nappy good liquor with heart and good will.
And to welcome us kindly our master stands by,
And tells me in friendship one tooth is a-dry.
Then let us accept it as lovingly, friends;
And so for this twelfth-day my carol here ends.
New Christmas Carols, 1661.
Ceremonies for Candlemas Eve
Down with the rosemary and bays, down with the mistletoe;
Instead of holly, now up-raise the greener box (for show).
The holly hitherto did sway; let box now domineer
Until the dancing Easter day, or Easter's eve appear.
Then youthful box which now hath grace your houses to renew;
Grown old, surrender must his place unto the crisped yew.
When yew is out, then birch comes in, and many flowers beside;
Both of a fresh and fragrant kin to honour Whitsuntide.
Green rushes, then, and sweetest bents, with cooler oaken boughs,
Come in for comely ornaments to re-adorn the house.
Thus times do shift ; each thing his turn does hold;
New things succeed, as former things grow old.
Robert Herrick: Hesperides, 1648
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18. |
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A Carol for Candlemas-Day
Now Candlemas is come at last, therefore my dearest friend,
Since Christmas time is almost past, I mean to make an end
Of this our mirth and merriment, and now the truth to tell,
He must be from our presence sent, O Christmas, now farewell.
Now Christmas will no longer stay, my very heart doth grieve,
Before from us he take his way, of him I’ll take my leave:
It is a time none of the least, as I the truth may tell,
For him we’ll make a worthy feast, then Christmas, now farewell.
With nappy ale both brown and stale, we’ll fill our bumpers full,
And pippins too as I am true, they make the best lambswool:
So fast and smooth it will go down, thy sorrow to expel,
And then at last when all is past, Christmas we’ll bid farewell.
A Cabinet of Choice Jewels, 1688
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19. |
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Grant now in Peace (that by Thy leave) I may depart, O Lord;
For thy salvation seen I have, according to Thy Word.
That which prepared was by Thee before all people’s sight,
Thy Israel’s renown to be, and to the Gentiles light.
George Wither, 1623
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20. |
Christmas' Lamentation
02:53
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Christmas's Lamentation for the loss of his Acquaintance,
Showing how he is forst to leave the Country, and come to London.
Christmas is my name, far have I gone, without regard
Whereas great men by flocks there were flown, to London-ward;
Where they in pomp and pleasure do waste that which Christmas was wonted to feast,
Welladay!
Houses where music was wont for to ring nothing but bats and owlets do sing.
Welladay! Welladay! Welladay! Where should I stay?
Christmas beef and bread is turn'd into stones and silken rags;
And Lady Money sleeps and makes moans in miser's bags;
Houses where pleasure once did abound nought but a dog and a shepherd is found,
Welladay!
Places where Christmas revels did keep are now become habitations for sheep.
Welladay! Welladay! Welladay! Where should I stay?
Since price came up with the yellow starch, poor folks do want,
And nothing the rich man will to them give, but do them taunt;
Charity from the country is fed, and in her place hath left naught but need:
Welladay!
And corn is grown to so high a price, it makes poor men cry with weeping eyes.
Welladay! Welladay! Welladay! Where should I stay?
Roxburghe Ballads, 17thC
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21. |
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The World turn’d upside down
Listen to me and you shall hear, news hath not been this thousand year:
Since Herod, Caesar, and many more, you never heard the like before.
Holy-days are despis'd, new fashions are devis'd, Old Christmas is kicked out of Town
Yet let's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn'd upside down.
The wise men did rejoice to see our Saviour Christ’s Nativity:
The Angels did good tidings bring, the Shepherds did rejoice and sing.
Let all honest men, take example by them. Why should we from good Laws be bound?
Yet let's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn'd upside down.
Our Lords and Knights, and Gentry too, doe mean old fashions to forgoe:
They set a porter at the gate, that none must enter in thereat.
They count it a sin, when poor people come in. Hospitality it self is drown'd.
Yet let's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn'd upside down.
The serving men doe sit and whine, and think it long ere dinner time:
The Butler's still out of the way, or else my Lady keeps the key,
The poor old cook, in the larder doth look, where is no goodness to be found,
Yet let's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn'd upside down.
To conclude, I'll tell you news that's right, Christmas was kill'd at Naseby fight:
Charity was slain at that same time, Jack Tell troth too, a friend of mine,
Likewise then did die, rost beef and shred pie, Pig, Goose and Capon no quarter found.
Yet let's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn'd upside down.
Thomason Tracts, 1646
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22. |
Let's dance and sing
00:58
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Let’s dance and sing, and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year:
Draw hogsheads dry, let flagons fly, for now the bells shall ring;
Whilst we endeavour to make good the title ‘gainst a King.
John Taylor: Christmas in and out, 1652
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23. |
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A Christmas Song, when the Rump was first dissolved
This Christmas time, ‘tis fit that we should feast and sing, and merry be,
It is a time of mirth;
For never since the world began, more joyful news was brought to man
Than at our Saviour’s birth.
But such have been the times of late, that holidays are out of date,
And holiness to boot,
For they that do despise and scorn to keep the day that Christ was born
Want holiness no doubt.
The Parliament that took away the observation of that day,
We know it was not free;
For if it were, such acts as those had ne’er been seen in verse or prose,
You may conclude with me.
This tale’s now done, the Speaker’s dumb, thanks to the trumpet and the drum,
And now I hope to see
A Parliament that will restore all things that were undone before
That we may Christians be.
The Rump, 1662
Any man or woman that can give any knowledge, or tell any tidings of an old, old, very old, grey-bearded Gentleman, called Christmas, who was wont to be a very familiar guest, and visit all sorts of people, both poor and rich, for his coming. Whosoever can tell what is become of him, and he may be found, let them bring him back again into England.
An Hue and Cry after Christmas, 1646
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24. |
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The Merry Boys of Christmas
Come, come my roaring ranting boys, let’s never be cast down,
We’ll never mind the female toys, but loyal be to the crown,
We’ll never break our hearts with care, or be cast down with fear,
Our bellies then let us prepare to drink some Christmas beer.
Then here’s a health to Charles our King, throughout the world admir’d,
Let us his great applauses sing, that we so much desir’d,
And wish’t amongst us for to reign when Oliver rul’d here,
But since he’s home return’d again, come fill some Christmas beer.
These holidays we’ll briskly drink, all mirth we will devise,
No treason will we speak or think, but bring us brave mince pies,
Roast beef, and brave plum porridge our loyal hearts to cheer,
Then prithee make no more ado, but bring us Christmas beer.
Roxburghe Ballads, c1660
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25. |
Old Christmas returned
02:17
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Old Christmas Returned, or, Hospitality Revived.
All you that to Feasting and mirth are inclin'd,
Come here is good news for to pleasure your mind,
Old Christmas is come for to keep open house
He scorns to be guilty of starving a mouse,
Then come boys and welcome, for diet the chief
Plum pudding, Goose, Capon, minc't pies, & Roast beef.
The holly and ivy, about the walls wind,
And shows that we ought to our neighbours be kind,
Inviting each other for pastime and sport
And where we best fare, there we most do resort.
We fail not of victuals, and that of the chief
Plum pudding, Goose, Capon, minc't pies, & Roast beef.
Although the cold weather doth hunger provoke
'Tis a comfort to see how the Chimneys do smoke,
Provision is making for Beer, Ale and wine,
For all that are willing, or ready to dine,
Then hast to the Kitchen for diet the chief
Plum pudding, Goose, Capon, minc't pies, & Roast beef.
Then well may we welcome old Christmas to town
Who brings us good cheer, and good liquor so brown,
To pass the cold winter away with delight
We feast it all day, and we frolic at night,
Both hunger and cold we keep out with relief
Plum pudding, Goose, Capon, minc't pies, & Roast beef.
Pepys Ballads, 17thC
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Passamezzo London, UK
London based early music ensemble specialising in English 16th and 17th repertoire.
Early modern
music, song, ballads, theatre & dance. Viols, lute, voices, violin, recorders, harp. Christmas, Elizabethan, Tudors, Stuarts
Part of the intercultural project 'Shore to Shore', working with Moroccan Sufi musicians, Ensemble Mogador.
... more
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