WASSAIL by Sthomason

WASSAIL SONG

[Chorus]
Sing Wassail, Sing Wassail
The boughs they do lie bare
Until you sing Wassail

Come all you lords and ladies fair
Sat by your fireside bright
Come out into the woods this e’en
By pale Diana’s light and….

Now Elder she’s the witch’s tree
You cut her if your dare
For cut without her leave you see
Brings bad luck all the year so …..

And Rowan is a northern tree
Of magic and of charm
For May-plucked sprigs hung by the door
Will keep you safe from harm

And Hawthorn he’s a fairy tree
Though touched by Joseph’s hand
He watches safe o’er you and me
And we watch o’er this land so ..

The Oak he is the king of trees
In winter golden-boughed
He stands outside the orchard wall
A sentry tall and proud so ..

But Apple she’s the fairest tree
Her blossom pure as snow
Come wassail to the apple tree
And watch the cider flow and ..

So all you lords and ladies fair
You’re sitting at your ease
Come give us hungry wassailers
Some cider and some cheese and …

And now we’ve sung our wassail here
The boughs they may grow green
Here’s health unto our woodland lord
His lady fair and queen so ..

I’ve since added a verse about the Yew – how could I have missed out such a tree? – which I sing between Hawthorn and Oak.

And Yew he is a mighty tree
For staff and hunting bow
He marks the site of sacred ground
As ages round it roll so ..