Christmas' Lamentation

from Old Christmas Returned by Passamezzo

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about

17thC Christmas political ballad

lyrics

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

credits

from Old Christmas Returned, released March 2, 2017
Eleanor Cramer - soprano
Alison Kinder - bass viol
Robin Jeffrey - lute

license

all rights reserved

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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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