- Gower Wassail
The Gower Wassail is a
wassail song from Gower inWales , UK. It is printed inA.L. Lloyd 's book "Folk Song in England" (1967), having been heard fromPhil Tanner .Lyrics
The majority of versions of the song begin with the same two stanzas, although pronouns (i.e., you, we, your, our, etc) vary. Following the second verse and chorus, the number of stanzas and their order vary from version to version. The primary difference between the lyrics that appear here is that one version is a dialogue between the wassailers and the master and mistress they are appealing to for hospitality. The other version is sung from the wassailers’ perspective alone. All the known stanzas are included below.
Opening Stanzas
A-wassail, a-wassail throughout all the town
Our cup it is white and our ale it is brown
Our wassail is made of the good ale and cake (too)
Some nutmeg and ginger, the best you can bake (do)Our wassail is made of the elderberry bough
And so my good neighbors we'll drink unto thou
Besides all on earth, you have apples in store
Pray let us come in for it's cold by the doorMain references
*Mudcat [http://www.folkinfo.org/forum/topic.php?topicid=298]
Versions
*
Shirley Collins on "Anthems in Eden "
*Steeleye Span on the album "Ten Man Mop, or Mr. Reservoir Butler Rides Again "
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