Maying Song

“Arise my love, shake off your dream
This may morning so early
Accept I pray this tree of may
That here stands flowering so rarely”

“My window I shall not unbar
Nor rise the may to greet sir
Go plant your tree where ere you please
Go plant it out in the street sir”

“Arise my love, shake off your dream
This may morning so early
Accept I pray this tree of may
That here stands flowering so rarely”

“But if all on the lords highway
I set it up to flourish
The winter's night is long and cold
The tender flowers they may perish”

“And if they die, dear love the tree
To churchyard shall be carried
And laid beneath, a briar rose
Shall blossom where it lies buried”

“And on the briar, a nightingale
Shall sit and sing so clear love
She’ll sing for us her sweetest song
As may comes round every year love”

“Arise my love, shake off your dream
This may morning so early
Accept I pray this tree of may
That here stands flowering so rarely”