Gentles in this hall,

give ye heed to what we say:

tidings from the East

we bring to you this day.

 

Wassail, wassail, wassail,

wassail sing we clear,

for the Star of Stars is dawning

at the turning of the year.

 

Wassail, wassail, wassail,

wassail sing we loud,

for the Star of Stars is dawning

on the humble and the proud.

 

Hidden deep in darkness,

deep within the Earth,

stirs the solstice seed,

stirring toward rebirth.

 

Chorus

 


Let the hall be hung

with holly and with bay;

 let the table groan

to celebrate the day.

 

Chorus

 

 Gentles in this hall,

give ye heed to what we say:

tidings from the East

we bring to you this day.

 

Chorus

 

Lyrics: Steven Posch, based on William Morris, Masters in This Hall (circa 1860)

Tune: Marin Marais, Marche pour les Matelots (1706)

For Fred Adams