The Hitchin May-Day Song
[THE following song is sung by the Mayers at Hitchin in the county of Herts. For an account of the manner in which May-day is observed at Hitchin, see Hone’s Every-Day Book.]
REMEMBER us poor Mayers all!And thus do we beginTo lead our lives in righteousness,Or else we die in sin.
We have been rambling all the night,And almost all the day;And now returned back again,We have brought you a branch of May.
A branch of May we have brought you,And at your door it stands;It is but a sprout,But it’s well budded outBy the work of our Lord’s hand.
The hedges and trees they are so green,As green as any leek;Our heavenly Father he watered themWith his heavenly dew so sweet.
The heavenly gates are open wide,Our paths are beaten plain;And if a man be not too far gone,He may return again.
The life of man is but a span,It flourishes like a flower;We are here to-day, and gone to-morrow,And we are dead in an hour.
The moon shines bright, and the stars give a light,A little before it is day;So God bless you all, both great and small,And send you a joyful May!