EMERALD ROSE: SONG LYRICS
all lyrics (c) Emerald Rose 1998-2004 except where noted
In the old Celtic calendar,
summer begins on May 1, known as Beltaine in
Irish and Gaelic and as Calan Mai (in various spellings) in Welsh, Cornish,
and
Breton. In modern Britain the village of Padstow, Cornwall, is still renowned
for its May Day celebrations, which keep many old traditions alive.
Beginning early in the morning, a band of revelers goes singing door to
door--with increasing revelry as the day progresses! The song changes
a bit
from year to year; this is one version of Padstow's traditional greeting of
summer.
PADSTOW
(trad. Cornish)
Chorus:
Unite and unite, oh let us all unite
For summer is a-comin' today
And whither we are going, we all will unite
In the merry morning of May
The young men of Padstow,
they might if they would
For summer is a-comin' today
They might have built a ship and gilded it with gold
In the merry morning of May
The young women of Padstow,
they might if they would
For summer is a-comin' today
They might have raised a garland with the white rose and the red
In the merry morning of May
Chorus
Rise up, Mrs. Johnson,
all in your gown of green
For summer is a-comin' today
You are as fine a lady as awaits upon the green
In the merry morning of May
Where are the young maids
who now here should sing
For summer is a-comin' today
They're all out in the meadow, a-flower-gathering
In the merry morning of May
Chorus
Arise all you Pagans with
all the joy you bring
For summer is a-comin' today
And bring to us a mug of beer, the merrier we shall sing
In the merry morning of May
Chorus
Arthur Hinds--vocals, bodhran,
guitar
Brian "Logan" Sullivan--vocals, guitar
Larry Morris--vocals, pennywhistle
Clyde Gilbert--vocals, tambourine