FOLLOWING THE MAY POLE

(by Olive Rosenberg and Addie Rose Holland,
adapted from Tony Deane's Following the Old Oss)

Here's adieu to Winter's wailing.
From now on it's plain sailing.
Summer is a-coming today
As we welcome the First of May.

	We're following the May Pole 
	  through the town
	And we're following the May Pole 
	  Montague-round,
	All on a bright May morning,
	All on the First of May.

As we don our May Day splendor
And remember Master Kaynor,
By the Post Office we'll stand and greet
The May Pole onto the street.

	We're following the May Pole ...
	
On the tune we'll be wood-sheddin'
With the smallest children leadin'
It's the bright May Pole and the dancers fair
That brings us our good cheer.

	We're following the May Pole ...
	
And we sing at sun and moon time
From Summer through the Spring time.
On the common gather 'round to sing
And hear the church bells ring. 

	We're following the May Pole ...
	
So good friends, don't ignore us,
Join in the May Day chorus;
Round the May Pole, we dance again
And sing the Summer in.

	We're following the May Pole ...

recording: Ian Robb singing Tony Deane's Following the Old Oss [YouTube]

notes: lyrics of Tony Deane's Following the Old Oss [Mainly Norfolk]