Wassail
Wassail Song
Media:wassail.mp3 A traditional Wassail song sung by Muldoon's Picnic and a pub full of people. Used with permission.
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.
Gloucestershire Wassail
Another wassailling song, score, midis, etc can be found here
Here We Come A-Wassailing
Wassail with a good chorus, good for children, would need the words edited to remove God and New Year references. Video and lyrics here http://www.carols.org.uk/the_wassail_song.htm.