BRING US IN GOOD ALE
Main Tune: Anon c. 1400 + snippets of other folk songs.
Arr: Graham Pratt
1. Bring us in no bacon now, for that is passing fat,
But bring us in good ale now, and give us enough of that;
And bring us in good ale, good ale, bring us in good ale;
For our blessed Lady's sake, bring us in good ale.
2. Dame get up and bake your pie, bake your pie...;
Dame get up & bake your pie on Chrisimus day in the morning.
Dame what makes your maidens lie, maidens lie…?
Dame what makes your ducks to die, ducks to die…?
3. Bring us in no eggs to eat, for there are many shells,
But bring us in good ale now, and give us nothing else;
And bring us in good ale, good ale, bring us in good ale;
For our blessed Lady's sake, bring us in good ale.
4. I saw three ships come sailing by,
Saw three ships come sailing by;
By by and by; I saw three ships come sailing by.
They was gannin' to Koln upon Rhine,
They was gannin' to Koln upon Rhine;
By by and by; I saw three ships come sailing by.
Said they'd come from Beth-e-le-hem,
Said they'd come from Beth-e-le-hem!
By by and by; I saw three ships come sailing by.
5. Bring us in no venison, it will not suit our blood;
But bring us in good ale now, for that will do us good;
And bring us in good ale, good ale, bring us in good ale;
For our blessed Lady's sake, bring us in good ale.
Bring us in no beef to eat, for there are many bones,
But bring us in good ale now, for that goes down at once;
And bring us in good ale, good ale, bring us in good ale;
For our blessed Lady's sake, bring us in good ale.
6. There's mistletoe on the poplar tree,
There's mistletoe on the lime.
Great clumps do hang in the orchard there
With berries for Xmas time.
And who will cut and hang it up around the cottage door?
And who will try to avoid a kiss and who is it begs for more?
They hung it out on an old oak tree
Before the day was dark;
They kindled a fire of ash logs
By blowing the sacred spark.
They danced below the mistletoe
And who should say them nay?
For wasn't this but the longest night
And tomorrow the shortest day?
Tomorrow the shortest day, tomorrow the shortest day, good ale.
Bring us in, oh Bring us in, Bring us in, oh Bring us in.
7. Bring us in no capon's flesh, for that is often dear;
But bring us in good ale now, and we’ll have nought to fear.
And bring us in good ale, good ale, bring us in good ale;
For our blessed Lady's sake: Bring us in, Bring us in,
Bring us in GOOD ALE!
Concert recording in front of live audience.
credits
from Make We Merry,
released December 2, 2020
Sound Engineer: James Singleton (Beefstock).
We are a performance choir founded in 2001.
Our new online album is MAKE WE MERRY which includes back catalogue material and two new 'virtual' recordings, all for the winter season.
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