Here are the lyrics to all the songs on the new album The Dance Goes On
The Four Seasons
Lyrics by Brian Pearson, arrangement BR/MG
Breezes blow through the woods in springtime,
Roots drink deep from the wakened earth
Young leaves shine in the quickening sunshine,
Dance the song of the new year’s birth
The dance goes on and is never-ending,
The circle turns and the singer sings
The year turns round but the wood in springtime
Does not care what the winter brings
When the leaves are long in the days of summer
And the light drifts through them cool and green
The great trees stir in their dreaming sleep
And sing slow tales of the years they’ve seen
The dance goes on and is never-ending,
The circle turns and the tale unfolds
The year turns on and the wood in summer
Has no thought for the winter’s cold
Blackberry, hazel and elderberry
Hang heavy and ripe in the shortening days
Bright as a banner, the autumn leaves
Burn red in the old sun’s dying rays.
The dance goes on and is never-ending,
The circle turns and returns again
The year burns on and the wood in autumn
Gathers itself for the winter’s pain
When winter bites and the leaves are fallen,
Through the hawthorn cold winds run
Through dwindling days the cruel-leaved holly
Keeps safe the memory of the sun
The dance goes on and is never-ending,
The circle turns and the singer sings
The year burns low but the winter wood
Still bears the memory of the spring
Still bears the memory of the spring
Still bears the memory of the spring ...
Joy, Health, Love and Peace
A traditional Wren song from West Wales, arranged by BR/MG. There’s a translation of the Welsh verses at the end.
Dryw bach ydyw’r gwr amdano mae stwr
Nos heno ‘mhob lle mae cwest arno fe
Joy, health, love and peace be all here in this place
By your leave we will sing concerning our king
Our king is well dressed in silks of the best
In ribbons so rare no king can compare
Fe ddaliwyd y gwalch ‘roedd neithiwr mor falch
Mewn ‘stafell wen deg gyda’r unbrawd ar ddeg
Fe dorwyd y twr, fe ddaliwyd y gwr
Fe ro’wd e mewn llen ar elor fraith wen
In his coach he doth ride with a great deal of pride
And with four footmen to wait upon him
We have trailed many miles over hedges and stiles
To find you this king, which now we bring
Ribanau bob lliw o gwmpas y dryw
Ribanau tri thro ar ei ben yn lle tô
Joy, health, love and peace be all here in this place
Joy, health, love and peace be all here in this place
Joy, health, love and peace be all here in this place
By your leave we will sing concerning our king
Our king is well dressed in silks of the best
In ribbons so rare no king can compare
We have trailed many miles over hedges and stiles
To find you this king, which now we bring
Now Christmas is past, Twelve-tide is the last
The old year bids adieu, great joy to the new!
---------------------------------------------------------
Little wren’s the lad all the fuss is about
Tonight there’s a quest for him everywhere
The hawk was taken, who only last night was so proud
In a fair white room with his eleven brothers
The tower was broken, the man was taken
He was placed in a cloth on a fair bier
Ribbons of every colour around the wren
Ribbons three times around the top in place of a roof
Ode to Brigid
Traditional Irish
Gabhaim molta Brigdhe, Inion i le hEireann,
Inion le gach tir i, molaimis go leir i!
Lochrann geal na Laighneach, soils’ ar feadh na tire
Ceann ar oigheacht Eireann, cean na mban ar mine.
Tig an geimhreadh dian dubh, gearra lena geire
Ach ar la le Brighde, gar duinn Earrach Eireann.
Molaimis go leir i!
- This is the translation Noirin Ni Riain gives:
I sing loudly the praises of Bridget
Daughter not just of Ireland but of all the countries of the world.
Let us all praise her!
Shining lantern of Leinster, a flame throughout the land,
Leader of the women of Ireland, one of the finest women ever.
The hard dark winter comes, short and sharp,
But once Bridget’s day appears, Ireland’s Spring is not far behind.
Let us all praise her!
Douce Dame Jolie
Guillaume de Mechaut, 14th century
Douce dame jolie,
Pour dieu ne pensés mie
Que nulle ait signorie
Seur moy fors vous seulement.
Qu’adès sans tricherie / Chierie / Vous ay et humblement
Tous les jours de ma vie / Servie / Sans villain pensement.
Helas! et je mendie
D’esperance et d’aïe;
Dont ma joie est fenie,
Se pité ne vous en prent.
Douce dame jolie ...
Mais vo douce maistrie / Maistrie / Mon cuer si durement
Qu’elle le contralie / Et lie / En amour tellement
Qu’il n’a de riens envie
Fors d’estre en vo baillie;
Et se ne li ottrie
Vos cuers nul aligement.
Douce dame jolie ...
Et quant ma maladie / Garie / Ne sera nullement
Sans vous, douce anemie, / Qui lie / Estes de mon tourment,
A jointes mains deprie
Vo cuer, puis qu’il m’oublie,
Que temprement m’ocie,
Car trop langui longuement.
Douce dame jolie ...
Sweet, lovely lady
for god’s sake do not think
that any has sovereignty
over me, but you alone.
For always, without treachery / Cherished / Have I you, and humbly
All the days of my life / Served / Without base thoughts.
Alas, I am left begging
For hope and relief;
For my joy is at its end
Without your compassion.
Sweet, lovely lady...
But your sweet mastery / Masters / My heart so harshly,
Tormenting it / And binding / In unbearable love,
So that it desires nothing
But to be in your power.
And still, your own heart
Renders it no relief.
Sweet, lovely lady ...
And since my malady / Will not / Be annulled
Without you, Sweet Enemy, / Who takes / Delight of my torment
With clasped hands I beseech
Your heart, that forgets me,
That it mercifully kill me
For too long have I languished.
Sweet, lovely lady ...
Mae’r Ddaear yn Glasu
Traditional Welsh May Carol, arrangement BR/MG
Mae’r ddaear yn glasu a’r coed sydd yn tyfu
A gwyrddion yw’r gerddi - mae’r llwyni mor llon
A heirdd yw’r egine a’r dail ar y dole
A blode’r perllanne pur llawnion.
Os bu yn ddiweddar wedd ddu ar y ddaear
Cydganodd yr adar yn gerddgar i gyd
Gweld coedydd yn deilio a wnâi iddynt byncio
Cydseinio drwy’n hoywfro draw’n hyfryd.
Mae’r ddaear fawr ffrwythlon a’i thrysor yn ddigon
I borthi’i thrigolion yn dirion bob dydd
Pe byddem ni ddynion mewn cyflwr heddychlon
Yn caru’n un galon ein gilydd.
The Earth is Greening
The Earth is greening and the trees are growing
And the gardens are green - the groves are so merry,
And beautiful are are the buds and the leaves on the meadows
And the orchards are full of blossoms.
Even if lately there’s been a dark look to the earth
The birds sang harmoniously together.
To see the trees coming into leaf makes them carol
Harmonising throughout our beautiful vallley
The great fruitful Earth will all her treasure is sufficient
To feed her inhabitants with ease every day
If only we men, in a state of peace,
Would love each another with one heart.
Northill May Song
Lyrics traditional, arrangement BR/MG
We have been wandering all this night,
And almost all this day,
And now we’re returning home, home again,
We’ve brought you a branch of May.
Arise, arise, you pretty fair maid,
And bring your May bush in,
For if it is gone by tomorrow, morrow morn,
You’ll say we have not been.
A branch of May we have brought you,
And at your door it stands,
It’s nowt but a sprout but it’s well budded out,
And plucked by our own hands.
Our song is done, we must be gone,
No longer can we stay,
So bless you all both great and small,
And bring you a joyful May.
Mwynen Mai (Gentle May)
The Welsh verse is a traditional May Carol, arranged and with a new English verse by BR & MG.
The English verse is an almost literal translation of the Welsh.
Atolwg, lana teulu,
Rhowch gennad inni ganu;
Mae’r yd a’r borfa’n glasu
Yn tyfu ar y tir
Mae’r gog yn pyncio’i gore
Yn barod hwyr a bore
Nid pell oddiwrth ein dryse
Yw dyddie C’lanme clir
Now fairest friends, we’ll sing you
A song of summer’s coming,
Once more the fields and meadows
Grow green with corn and hay,
And cheerfully the cuckoo -
With summer on our doorstep -
Sings all day long to welcome
The merry month of May
Searching for Lambs
Lyrics traditional, accompaniment arranged by Mike Gulston
As I went out one May morning,
One May morning betime,
I met a maid, from home had strayed
Just as the sun did shine.
“What makes you rise so soon, my dear,
Your journey to pursue?
Your pretty little feet they tread so sweet,
Strike off the morning dew.”
“I’m going to feed my father’s flock,
His young and tender lambs,
That over hills and over dales
Lie waiting for their dams.”
“Oh stay, oh stay, you handsome maid,
And rest a moment here
For there is none save you alone
That I do love so dear.
How gloriously the sun do shine,
How pleasant is the air,
I’d rather rest on a true love’s breast
Than any other where.
For I am thine and thou art mine,
No man shall uncomfort thee.
We’ll join our hands in wedded bands
And married we will be.”
Ahi! Amours
Lyrics by Conon de Bethune, arrangement BR/MG
Ahi! Amours, con dure departie
me convendra faire pour le meillour
Ki anques fust amee ne servie!
Deus me ramaint a li par sa dousour
Si voirement que m’em part a dolour.
Las! Qu’ai je dit?
Ja ne m’en part mie
Se li cors vais servir nostre seignour,
Li cuers remaint de tout a sa baille.
Oh, Love! How hard it will be for me to leave
- As I am sworn to do -
The best woman who was ever loved or served!
May God, in His kindness, lead me back to her
As surely I leave her in sorrow.
Alas! What have I said?
I am not really leaving her at all!
If my body is going off to serve Our Lord,
My heart remains entirely within her sway.
Spirit of the Trees
Lyrics by Maria Cunningham, arrangement BR/MG
The birch is a fair maid, the youngest of trees
Through green leaves and branches the wind it do blow ...
She tosses her hair and she’ll dance on the breeze
Down in the greenwood they grow ...
The yew is an old man, all twisted with age
Through green leaves and branches the wind it do blow ...
In stone circle and churchyard he is wise man and sage
Down in the greenwood they grow ...
A sweet blushing bride is the hawthorn in May
Through green leaves and branches the wind it do blow ...
All dressed in white where the lads sport and play
Down in the greenwood they grow ...
Holly’s a brave knight with prickle-sharp sword
Through green leaves and branches the wind it do blow ...
Red blood he has shed, both for forest and lord
Down in the greenwood they grow ...
The willow she weeps her green tears in a stream
Through green leaves and branches the wind it do blow ...
She stands with her head bowed, she is lost in a dream
Down in the greenwood they grow ...
The mystical elder’s the witch of the wood
Through green leaves and branches the wind it do blow ...
Healing flowers and berries: her magic is good
Down in the greenwood they grow ...
In sacred grove does the golden bough grow
Through green leaves and branches the wind it do blow ...
High priest of the trees is divine mistletoe
Down in the greenwood they grow ...
In gown of pale green the beech tree now stands
Through green leaves and branches the wind it do blow ...
She is tall and majestic, the queen of the land
Down in the greenwood they grow ...
He’s tall and he’s strong, as a good king should be
Through green leaves and branches the wind it do blow ...
In a crown of green gold, he’s the mighty oak tree
Down in the greenwood they grow ...
Down in the greenwood they grow ...
Down in the greenwood they grow ...
Ploughman Lads
Lyrics traditional, arrangement by Mike Gulston
In yonder glen there’s a ploughman lad
And some summer’s day he’ll be all my own.
Singing laddie-hi, and laddie-ho,
Ploughman lads are all the go.
In yonder glen, could’ve gotten a miller,
But all his dust would have made us choke.
Singing laddie-hi, and laddie-ho,
Ploughman lads are all the go.
In yonder glen, could’ve gotten a merchant,
All of his goods were not worth a groat.
Singing laddie-hi, and laddie-ho,
Ploughman lads are all the go.
Well, see him coming down from the town
With all of his ribbons hanging down.
Singing laddie-hi, and laddie-ho,
Ploughman lads are all the go.
I love his face, I love his skin,
I’ll love the very cart he harrows in.
Singing laddie-hi, and laddie-ho,
Ploughman lads are all the go.
In yonder glen there’s a ploughman lad
And some summer’s day he’ll be all my own.
Singing laddie-hi, and laddie-ho,
Ploughman lads are all the go.
Singing laddie-hi, and laddie-ho,
Ploughman lads are all the go ...
C’est La Gieus En Mi Les Prez
Traditional, 13th century
C’est la gieus en mi les prez
- J’ai amors a ma volenté -
Dames i ont bauz levez
Gari m’ont mi oel
- J’ai amors a ma volenté
Teles com ge voel -
C’est desoz l’olive en mi les prez
- Vos ne sentés mie les maus d’amer -
Dames et puceles vont caroler
Remirez vos bras!
- Vos ne sentés mie les maus d’amer
Ausi com je fas -
La jus desouz l’olive
- Ne vos repentez mie -
Fontaine i sourt serie
Puceles, carolez!
- Ne vos repentez mie
De loiaument amer -
Down there in the meadows
- I have just the love I wish for -
Ladies have started dancing
The sight of this has revived me
- I have just the love I wish for
Just as I would like -
Beneath the olive tree in the meadows
- You do not feel the pangs of love -
Ladies and girls go to dance
Watch your arms!
- You do not feel the pangs of love
as I do -
Down there beneath the olive tree
- Do not repent -
A clear spring wells up.
Dance, girls!
- Do not repent
of loving faithfully
The Hops in the Gardens
Lyrics by Ranna Hurst, arrangement BR/MG
The hops in the gardens are stripped from the vines
A finger of chill cools the air
The first flush of gold from the birch in the field
Gives notice that Autumn is near
Over the valley, the woodsmoke and mist
Drift like a curtain of gauze
While above, necks outstretched, a skein of wild geese
Flies high over farmhouse and oast
But although there’s a change and the summer seems gone
In my heart I know it’s still here
In the buds on the trees swelling silently now
And the warmth of my memories held dear
So it’s time now to gather, it’s time to store
It’s time to light a bright fire
Till the winter is past and the Earth has turned
Bringing summer to warm us once more
Welcome In Another Year
Lyrics by Zoe Mulford, arrangement BR/MG
Build up the bonfire! Now the seasons turn -
Welcome in another year and let the old one burn!
Build up the bonfire, light the candles bright
All the hungry spirits will be coming by tonight
Light the bonfire, another year has flown
Gather friends around you, don’t spend the night alone,
Sweep out the courtyard to greet the coming year
Lay a handsome table; your visitors are here!
Here come your sorrows, all your old regrets
Every broken promise and every unpaid debt
Perched on your shoulders, yearning towards the flame
Pour them a glass of whisky and greet them all by name
Now make them welcome, offer them release
Offer them atonement and pray they may find peace
Give them your blessing but do not let them stay,
Beat on the cans and the pots and pans and send them on their way!
Crudités
Lyrics by Pat Goodacre, Jessica Abraham, Blanche Rowen, Mike Gulston. Melody traditional, 15th century
Crudités, crudités with crisps as starters
Anchovies in virgin oil, crudités
Guacamole, caviare, basil and tomata
Aubergine and feta dip, taramasalata
Gorgonzola, Camembert, tapenade and nachos
Button mushrooms à la Greque, croutons in gazpacho
Tiramisu, creme brulée, chocolate that melts, a
Cheesecake and profiterôles - pass the Alka Seltzer!
Adam Lay Ybounden
Lyrics traditional, arrangement BR/MG
Adam lay ybounden,
Bounden in a bond;
Four thousand winter
Thought he not too long.
And all was for an apple,
An apple that he took,
As clerkës finden written
In their book.
Ne’er had the apple,
The apple taken been,
Ne’er had Our Lady
A-been heaven’s queen.
Blessed be the time
That apple taken was,
Therefore we moun singen
Deo gratias!
The Lady’s Branle
Lyrics Hope Ahearne, arrangement BR/MG
And she shall bring the buds in spring
And dance among the flowers,
In summer’s heat her kisses sweet
They fall from leafy bowers,
She cuts the grain and harvest corn,
The fruits of fall surround her,
The days grow old in winter’s cold,
She draws her cloak around her ...
