Twelve Days of Christmas

So here we are again, another winter, another holiday season, another time to enjoy the beautiful words and music this season has inspired. Off we go . . . 

Day 12 - Here We Come A-wassailing (Here We Come A-Caroling)

In her book Ancient English Christmas Carols, Edith Rickert writes that Here We Come A-wassailing  "embodies the Saxon phrases used in pledging. The former of these has survived in the refrain of the carol (Wassail, Wassail, Out of the Milk Pail), which is otherwise highly religious. In the seventeenth century the wassail was a definite institution - the carrying about of a bowl of spiced ale from house to house to drink healths in expectation of a contribution." The wassail bowl itself was a hearty combination of hot ale or beer, apples, spices and mead, just alcoholic enough to warm the tingling toes and fingers of the singers. This carol dates from at least the mid 19th century, but is probably much older. The a- in "a-wassailing" is an archaic intensifying prefix, as in "A-Hunting We Will Go" or "Six geese a-laying" (from The Twelve Days of Christmas). 

1. Here we come a wassailing

Among the leaves so green,

Here we come a wandering

So fair to be seen.

Chorus

Love and joy come to you,

And to you your wassail too,

And God bless you and send you a happy New Year.

And God send you a happy New Year.

2. Our wassail cup is made

Of the rosemary tree,

And so is your beer

Of the best barley. Chorus

3. We are not daily beggars

That beg from door to door,

But we are neighbours' children

Whom you have seen before. Chorus

4. Good Master and good Mistress,

As you sit by the fire,

Pray think of us poor children

Are wandering in the mire. Chorus

5. We have a little purse

Made of ratching leather skin;

We want some of your small change

To line it well within. Chorus

6. Call up the Butler of this house,

Put on his golden ring;

Let him bring us a glass of beer,

And the better we shall sing. Chorus

7. Bring us out a table,

And spread it with a cloth;

Bring us out a mouldy cheese,

And some of your Christmas loaf. Chorus

8. God bless the Master of this house,

Likewise the Mistress too;

And all the little children

That round the table go. Chorus

9. Good master and good mistress,

while you're sitting by the fire,

pray think of us poor children

who are wandering in the mire.

Here We Come A-wassailing - Ian Giles

Here We Come A-wassailing - Theatre of Voices

. . . and a more earthy variation . . .

Here We Come A-wassailing - The Watersons

Here we come a-wassailing among the leaves so green

Here we come a-wandering so fairly to be seen

Now is winter time, strangers travel far and near

And we wish you, send you a happy New Year!

Bud and blossom, bud and blossom, bud and bloom and bear

So we may have plenty of cider all next year

Hatfuls and in capfuls and in bushel-bags and all

And the cider running out of every gutter hole.

Down here in the muddy lane there sits an old red fox

Starving and a-shivering and licking his old chops.

Bring us out your table and spread it if you please,

And give us hungry wassailers a bit of bread and cheese.

I’ve got a little purse and it’s made of leather skin.

A little silver sixpence would line it well within.

Now is winter-time, strangers travel far and near

And we wish you, send you a happy New Year!