Dartington Morris has a tradition of singing, whether in dances, or before and after, and in sessions in the pub after a performance. Here we have a collection of songs and lyrics that we believe to be free from copyright. If you know different, do please let us know and we will take them off the website.

May Day

Hal an Tow

Traditional; learned from The Watersons on their album Frost and Fire

Take the scorn to wear the horn
It was the crest when you was born
Your father’s father wore it
And your father wore it too

Chorus (after each verse):
Hal-an-tow, jolly rumble O
We were up long before the day O
To welcome in the summer,
To welcome in the May O
The summer is a-coming in
And winter’s gone away O

What happened to the Spaniards
That made so great a boast O?
Why they shall eat the feathered goose
And we shall eat the roast O

Robin Hood and Little John
Have both gone to the fair O
And we will to the merry green wood
To hunt the buck and hare O

God bless Aunt Mary Moyses
And all her power and might O
And send us peace to England
Send peace by day and night O.

Padstow May Song

Dave Webber’s May Song, sung on the Beggar's Velvet album Lady of Autumn

Winter time has gone and past-o,
Summer time has come at last-o.
We shall sing and dance the day
And follow the ’obby ’orse that brings the May.

Chorus (after each verse):
So, Hail! Hail! The First of May-o!
For it is the first summer’s day-o!
Cast you cares and fears away,
Drink to the old horse on the First of May!

Blue bells they have started to ring-o,
And true love, it is the thing-o.
Love on any other day
Is never quite the same as on the First of May!

Never let it come to pass-o
We should fail to raise a glass-o!
Unto those now gone away
And left us the ’obby ’orse that brings the May!

(repeat first verse)