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