For further notes, dots, musicology, enquiries, complaints & sources - please contact: Jon McNamara or David Albinson by mailing : mailto:suggers(at)beerfordbury.com

CONTENTS :

My boots are very clean

I have a little pocket to put my money in

Knock on the knocker,

Ring on the bell

Please give me a copper

Because I've sung so well !

If you haven't got a penny

A halfpenny will do

If you haven't got a halfpenny

Then God bless you!

We have come a'wassailing and we hope you'll prove kind

We hope you'll prove kind with your cakes and strong beer

For we'll come no more nigh you until the next year

The first to come in is Lord Nelson you'll see

With a bunch of blue ribbons tied under his knee

And a star on his breast that like silver does shine

I hope he remembers it's wassailing time.

And the next to come in it is Lord Collinwood

And he's fought with Lord Nelson 'till he's shed his blood

And he's come from the sea old England to view

And he's come a'wassailing with all of his crew.

The last to come is old Toss pot you'll see

He's a valiant old fellow in every degree

He's a valiant old man and he wears a pig tail

And his only delight is a'drinking strong ale.

Repeat first verse

Come Ladies and Gentlemen sat by the fire

Put your hands in your pockets and give us our desire

Put you hands in your pockets and give us our delight

If you'll give nowt, we'll take nowt.....

WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCH'D THEIR FLOCKS

All seated on the ground

The Angel of the Lord came down

[The Angel of the Lord came down]

And Glory shone around

[And Glory shone around]

"Fear not" said he; for mighty dread

Had seized their troubled mind;

"Glad tidings of great joy I bring

To you and all mankind".

"To you in David's town this day

Is born of David's Line

A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;

And this shall be the sign."

"All glory be to God on high

And to the Earth be peace;

Good will henceforth from heaven to men

Our cup it is white and our ale it is brown

Our Wassail is made of the good ale and true

Some nutmeg and ginger - the best we could brew.

[ And its ... ] Our Wassail, Jolly Wassail

Joy come to our Jolly Wassail.

Our Wassail was made with and Elderberry bough

And so my good neighbour we'll drink unto thee

Beside all on earth you'll have apples in store

Pray let us come in for it's cold by the door.

We hope that your apple trees prosper and bear

So we may have cider when we call next year

And where you've one barrel, we hope you'll have ten

So we can have cider when we call again.

Here's we Jolly Wassailers weary and cold

Pray drop us some silver into our old bowl

And if we're alive for another new year

Here we come a'wandering so fair to be seen

CHORUS:

For it is a Christmas time

and we wander far and near

And we wish you merry Christmas

and Happy New Year

And a year .... and a year ...

And we wish you merry Christmas

and Happy New Year

We are not daily beggars that beg from door to door

But we are neighbours children whom you have seen before.

Call up the Butler of this house - put on his golden ring

Let him bring us a glass beer and better we shall sing.

We have got a little purse of stretching leather skin

We want a little money to line it well within.

God bless the Master of this house,

likewise the Mistress too

(To the tune of "CWM RHONDDA")

We won’t sing long – never fear!

But we’ll wish you, now it matters,

Happy Christmas, good new year.

CHORUS:

Happy Christmas, Happy Christmas

And a prosperous New Year

(Good New Year)

And a prosperous New Year!

At midwinter, it is folly

To forget the trees on Earth

Ivy, Mistletoe and Holly

Celebrate the Son’s rebirth.

Let the Mistress or the Master

Of this house of Joy and Cheer

Help us sing a little faster

Bring us all a glass of beer!

You may think that we look funny,

Or we sing from selfish greed

But please fill our hats with money

It all goes to folks in need!

For there is too little good stuff there within

Four and a half is it's measure in full

Too small for a sup, not enough for a pull...

Then bring us a barrel and set it up right

Bring us a barrel, to last out the night

Bring us a barrel, no matter how high

We'll drink it up Lads, we'll drink it dry.

The poor little firkin's nine gallons in all

Though the beer it is good, the size is too small

For lads that are drinkers like you and like I

That firkin small barrel too quickly runs dry.

And when that I'm dying and on me death bed

By me bedside leave a fine full hogshead

That if down below I mun go when I die

Me and old Nick we will both drink it dry.

*The Kilderkin’s Next and although rather small

At least it is better than nothing at all

Its eighteen full gallons will just about do

Provided, of course, there’s another for you.

Then bring forth the Puncheon and roll out the butt

Them's the best measures before me to put

Our pots will go round and good ale it will flow

And we'll be contented for an hour or so.

Chorus:

until it doth run over [x2]

For tonight we'll merry merry be [x3]

Tomorrow we'll be sober !

Here's to the man who drinks light ale

and goes to bed quite sober

He fades as the leaves do fade ...

And drops off in October.

Here's to the girl who steals a kiss

and runs to tell her mother

She's a very foolish thing ....

She'll never get another Chorus:

Here's to the man who drinks brown ale

and goes to bed quite mellow

He lives as he ought to live ...

And dies a jolly good fellow

Here's to the girl who steals a kiss

and comes back for another

She's a boon to all mankind ...

To raise up our glasses to drink to the King

And as to the Master, we'll drink your good health

We hope you will prosper in virtue and wealth ...

In virtue and wealth

With our Wassail, Wassail, Wassail

And joy come to our Jolly Wassail

Wassail, wassail, wassail,wassail

And joy come to our jolly wassail.

Now neighbours and strangers that here we have found

Give a coin or two as the hat it pass round

For the gift that you give is not taken in greed

But will ease and comfort poor people in need

Poor people in need ....

Now for this good coin, the cider, the beer

And for the warm welcome that we have found here

We give you our thanks and we will keep in mind

How you have been generous, friendly and kind

And friendly and kind...

And so for the kindness that we did receive

We return you our thanks as we now take our leave

From this present evening we bid you adieu!

Until the next year and same season ensue ...

Chorus:

And loud your praises sing

To the turning of the year

And the frost is cold and hard

There is fire upon your breath

And ice upon the yard

The bitter wind will glow your cheek

As to the Inn - your friends to greet .... Chorus ....

It's the season of hard frost

When the trees stand bare and cold

As the snow it shrouds the fields

Sheep huddle in the fold

For Christmas time is coming near

A time for friends and kindly cheer .... Chorus ...

Now the winter nights are dark

And are with memory strong

When the Wassailers they come in

To cheer with merry song

They'll sing with joy of the time now come

And they'll sing the "King" to bless your home ... Chorus ...

Build the fire into a blaze

And make the rafters ring

Turn no-one from your door

'tis the season now to sing ...

Come raise your glasses, drink a toast

Of all the trees that are in the wood,

the holly bears the crown

The rising of the sun, And the running of the deer

The playing of the merry organ,

sweet singing in the choir.

The Holly bears a blossom as WHITE as the lily flower

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ

to be our sweet Saviour ...

The Holly bears a berry as RED as any blood

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ

to do poor sinners good

The Holly bears a PRICKLE, AS SHARP as any thorn

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ

on Christmas day in the morn

The Holly bears a *BARK, AS BITTER as any gall,

The holly and the ivy when they are both full grown

Of all the trees that are in the wood,

SANS DAY CAROL

as WHITE as the milk

And Mary she bore Jesus

who was wrapped up in silk.

And Mary she bore Jesus Christ

our Saviour for to be

And the first tree in the green wood

It was the Holly - Holly - Holly

And the first tree in the green wood

it was the Holly.

Now the Holly bears a berry

as GREEN as the grass

And Mary bore Jesus who died on the cross

Now the Holly bears a berry as blood it is RED

And we trust in our Saviour

who rose from dead

Now the Holly bears a berry a

as BLACK as the coal

Wassail, wassail! Landlord, stint not;
Fill each firkin with the best.
Patrons, fill our purses also;
By the poor you will be blest.
Then our wandering shall continue,
Cecil leading on before,
'Til in Beerfordbury Village
Sing we wassail evermore.