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Earth Wassail

from Notes of Being by Spiral Dance

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about

Many strange traditions remain in Britain, and presumably countless others have been lost, but the ancient custom of Wassailing apple trees is still upheld in Somerset on January 17th each year. The villagers gather in the orchards to sing the Old Wassail Song, and pieces of toast dipped in cider are hung from the trees as an offering to the spirits that watch over the fruit. Guns are also fired into the upper branches to ward off any evil ghouls that may be lurking. Earth Wassail is our version of the more traditional Gower Wassail, from South Wales. Most of the people on the Gower peninsula originated from Somerset and many very old songs survived there because of the isolation of the community.

lyrics

Here in this field we first will be seen
to drink this trees health such custom has been
so unto the earth we'll drink her good health
and hope she will prosper in bountiful wealth

It has been the custom as we've been told
by ancient house keepers in days of old
for young men and women together draw near
and fill up their bowls with cider and beer

WASSAIL WASSAIL WASSAIL WASSAIL WASSAIL

Fill up your wassail bowl full to the brim
see, harnessed and garnished so neat and so trim
sometimes with laurel and sometimes with bay
according to custom to keep the old way

WASSAIL WASSAIL WASSAIL WASSAIL WASSAIL

We hope all your apples trees prosper and bear
so you will have cider again the next year
for where you've a hogshead we hope you'll have ten
so you will have cider when we come again

We hope all your barley will prosper and grow
so you will have barley and beer to bestow
for where you've a bushel we hope you'll have ten
so you will have beer when we come again

WASSAIL WASSAIL WASSAIL WASSAIL WASSAIL

credits

from Notes of Being, released June 17, 2020
Traditional
(Tune by Spiral Dance)

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Spiral Dance Adelaide, Australia

With a combination of haunting vocals, intoxicating guitar riffs and groovy accordion lines, underpinned with potent bass and dynamic percussion, Spiral Dance presents an eclectic blend of traditional folk-rock with powerful self-penned songs and tunes. Rousing melodies intertwine with tales of Magick, myth and legend - music that will rock your ancestors! ... more

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