Here We Come A-wassailing

The Wassail Song or after his Anfangsvers: Here We Come A- wassailing (or Here We Come A- caroling ) is an English traditional Christmas and New Year's particular song that was printed around 1850. Text and music are probably from the 17th century.

The song sings and is part of the old custom of Wassailing (from Middle English wæs hæil ) or Carol singing from house to house with the wishes of good health. The a in "A- wassailing " is an archaic intensifying prefix (see A - Hunting We Will Go and in the text of The Twelve Days of Christmas from the point "Six geese a- laying ", etc.).

Chorus

His refrain ( chorus ) reads:

It culminates in the final stanza:

There are different versions of the text. The verses of each stanza are sung in 6/8-measure while the chorus changes in the refrain on 2/2. The verses 2, 4 and 6 are omitted when the Carol is sung in the church.

Text

Oxford Book of Carols ( 1928:31 ), there to Husk: Songs of the Nativity (1868 )

1 Here we come a- wassailing Among the leaves so green Here we come a- wandering So fair to be seen. REFRAIN: Love and joy come to you, And to you your wassail too, And God bless you and 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. REFRAIN 3 We are not daily beggars That beg from door to door, But we are neighbors ' children Whom you have seen before. REFRAIN 4 Call up the butler of this house, Put on his golden ring; Let him bring us up a glass of beer, And better we Shall sing. REFRAIN 5 We have got a little purse Of stretching leather skin. We want a little of your money To line it well within. REFRAIN 6 Bring us out a table, And spread it with a cloth; Bring us out a moldy cheese, And some of your Christmas loaf. REFRAIN 7 God bless the master of this house, Likewise the mistress too; And all the little children That round the table go. REFRAIN 8 Good Master and good Mistress, While you're sitting by the fire, Pray think of us poor children Who are wandering in the mire. REFRAIN