Original cover
Yule Carols
collected by Myth
Original cover
Endnote: The first section of these songs was orginally collected and printed on a dot matric printer and shared at Free Sprit Allance Yule celebrations beginning around 1992, or possibly 1991. They weren't a "major" hit at the FSA Yules, but Myth Woodling sometimes distributed photocopies to attendees. These endnotes at the bottom are a new addition.
Wassail Carol
Chorus:
Wassail, Wassail all over the town,
Our bread it is white and our ale it is brown;
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree;
With the wassailing-bowl, we'll drink to thee.
Here's to the ox and to his right horn;
Pray God send our master a good crop of corn,
A good crop of corn that we may see;
With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee!
Chorus
Here's to the cow and to her long tail;
Pray God send our master a good cask of ale;
A good cask of ale that we may see;
With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee!
Chorus
Here's to the maid in the lily white smock,
Who tripped to the door and pulled back the lock;
Who tripped to the door and pulled back the pin,
For to let these jolly wassailers walk in.
Chorus
Come, bulter, come fill us a bowl of the best,
And we shall pray your soul everbe blest;
But if you do bring us a bowl of the small,
To hell with bulter, bowl, and all!
Endnote: Another name for this Old English song is the "Gloucestershire Wassail." There are several versions of the lyrics, which is not unusual with traditional songs. The word "wassail" can be found in the mid-12th century, and derives from Old Norse ves heill meaning "be healthy," or "be hale." A "wassail" was a toast to "Good Health"..."Be thou well!" The word, "wassailing," meaning a custom of singing carols house to house at Yuletide, is recorded in 1742. The carolers became known as "wassailers." Eventually "wassail" was the name of the hot drink which was offered to the "wassailers."
This wassail carol wishes the farm animals "good health" and prosperity to the master of a great house so that all may partake in it. One of the longer versions of this carol names several animals. It was reportedly sung in 1864, in the little village of Over, near Gloucester, by a group of wassailers from the neighbouring village of Minsterworth.
Here are some seasonal songs not in the orginal collection.
Jingle Bells
Dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh,
O'er the fields we go, laughing all the way,
Bells on bob-tail ring, making spirits bright,
What fun it is to ride and sing, a sleighing song tonight.
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way;
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way;
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.
Endnote: The American holiday song, "Jingle Bells," by James Lord Pierpont, was orginally published under the title "One Horse Open Sleigh" in 1857. It is now in public domain. Though this "merry little jingle" is now a well known, December holiday classic, it was originally written for the USA holiday of Thanksgiving.
Merry Little Solstice
Have yourself a merry little Solstice;
Let your heart be light:
From now on, our troubles will be out of sight.
Have yourself a merry little Solstice;
Make our Yuletide gay,
From now, on our troubles will be far away.
Here we are as in olden days:
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us--
Gather near to us, once more.
Through the years, we will all be together,
If the Fates allow...
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
Have yourself a Merry Little Solstice now!
Endnote: Yes, this is one of my favorite Yuletide filks.
Here We Come a Wassailing
Here we come a-wassailing
Among the leaves so green
Here we come a-wandering
So fair as to be seen
Chorus:
Love and Joy come to you
And to you a-wassail too!
And Gods bless you and send you
A Happy New Year!
We are not daily beggars
That go from door to door
But we are neighbor's children
Whom you have seen before
Chorus
Good Mistress and good Master
As you sit by the fire
Please think of us poor children
Who wander through the mire
Chorus
Krampus Songs
Da Krampus Is Coming To Town!
Oh! You better watch out,
You better not cry,
You better not pout,
I'm telling you why:
Da Krampus is coming to town!
He's making a list,
He's checking it twice,
He's gonna find out
Who's naughty or nice.
Da Krampus is coming to town!
He sees you when you're sleeping,
He knows when you're awake.
He knows if you've been naughty or bad,
So be good for your own sake!
Oh...You better watch out,
You better not cry
You better not pout,
I'm telling you why:
Da Krampus is coming to town.
Lazy little kids,
Whiny little tots.
Rudy-toot-toots,
and jumping on the cots.
Da Krampus is coming to town.
The Krampus works for St Nick,
he will have Krampus-spree.
He'll snatch up all the bad kids
from round the Christmas tree.
Break your Mom's vase,
Loose your homework,
Make a sad-peas-face,
Or tear your new shirt.
Da Krampus is coming to town.
The Karampus throws children
Into his burlap sack
We don't know where they go,
But they are never coming back!
So--You better watch out,
You better not cry.
You better not pout,
I'm telling you why:
Da Krampus is coming
Da Krampus is coming
Da Krampus is coming
To town!!!
--2010 filk parody by "jesterbear," apologies to J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, 1934
Krampus Bells
Dashing through the streets in our fur, all dark and gray!
Ringing bells we go, Krampuslauf-ing all the way!
Krampusnacht is here, giving all a-fright!
What fun it is to run, and sing Krampus songs tonight!
Oh, Krampus bells, Krampus bells, ringing loud and clear!
Oh, what fun it is to run, when Krampusnacht is here!
Oh, Krampus bells, Krampus bells, ringing loud and clear!
Oh, what fun it is to run, when Krampusnacht is here!
--2014 paraody by M. Woodling of the holiday classic "Jingle Bells" by James Lord Pierpont. This song, "Jingle Bells," was orginally published under the title "One Horse Open Sleigh" in 1857, and thus is now in public domain.
Who is Krampus?
Krampus is often described as a Germanic winter spirit. Indeed, his name derives from the Old High German word for "claw," krampen. Krampus is a hairy, scary creature with claws and goat horns. It is said that Krampus accompanies Saint Nicholas (English), Heiliger Nicklaus (German), San Nicola/San Nicolo (Italian) during the darkest of the winter season, beginning with December 5 (Krampusnacht) through Decemeber 25 (Christmas). Krampus threatens to punish, or remove, the bad children. Krampus is extremely well known in Germany and Austria, but he frequently puts in an appearence in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Scandinavia, Switzerland, and northern Italy (around the area of the Italian Alps), etc. There are those who claim Krampus is a pre-Christian winter spirit from the alps. Others claim he simply evolved within the Austrian holiday traditions.