Wassail

A Wassail is a Marcher tradition performed at every harvest.

Wassail Song

Media:wassail.mp3 A traditional Wassail song sung by Muldoon's Picnic and a pub full of people. Used with permission.

Learning resources: (if in doubt, learn the tune, if you can hold a harmony have a go at one of the harmony parts!)

1. O Mistress, at your door our Wassail begin(s), Pray open the door, and let us come in,

Refrain: With our Wassail, Wassail, Wassail, Wassail, And joy come to our jolly Wassail!

2. O Mistress, at your door we kindly salute, For it is an old custom you cannot dispute, With our Wassail, etc.

3. O Mistress and Master, sitting down by the fire, While we poor Wassail-men are travelling thro' the mire, With our Wassail, etc.

4. O Mistress and Master, sitting down at your ease, With their hands in their pockets to give what they please To our Wassail, etc.

5. Come young men and maidens, I pray you draw near; Come fill up our bowl with some cider or beer, With our Wassail, etc.

6. You see how we'll smile at our flowing Bowl — Just now it is empty, by-and-bye it'll be full, With our Wassail, etc.

7. I wish you a good Harvest and a Prosperous Year, And plenty of money and a barrel of beer, With our Wassail, etc.

8. I wish you a blessing, and a long time to live, Because you're so free and so willing to give To our Wassail, etc.

And plenty more, which can be improvised! E.g.

I hope that your apples will prosper and grow, That you may have cider and a plenty to bestow, To our Wassail, etc.

I hope that your barley may prosper and grow, That you may have beer and a plenty to bestow, To our Wassail, etc.

Apple Wassail

A very easy tune and limited lyrics to learn. The score and recordings of each part individually can be found here: http://www.voicebeat.org/apple-wassail

Yorkshire Wassail

Words edited for IC sense. Score and midi file youtube version

1.We've been a -while a wandering Amongst the leaves so green. But now we come a wassailing So plainly to be seen,

Chorus For it's Harvest time, when we travel far and near; We wish your crops health and a prosperous year.

We are not daily beggars That beg from door to door; We are your neighbors children, For we've been here before

Call up the steward of this house Likewise the yeomen too, And all the little children That round the table go

Bring us out a table And spread it with a cloth, Bring us out a mouldy cheese And some of your wheaten loaf;

Good master and good mistress, While you're sitting by the fire, Pray think of us poor children That's wandered in the mire

Malpas Wassail

youtube version

Now the harvest being over And winter drawing in Please open your door And let us come in With our wassail