The Month of Maying - Fanfare

Now is the month of maying is one of the most famous English ballets, published by Thomas Morley in 1595. The song delights in bawdy double entender. It is apparently about the spring dances, but this is a metaphor of a sexual nature. For example, a "barley pause" would have suggested a meeting in the field (such as: "rolling in the hay"). The use of such images and puns was very common during the Renaissance.

Grade: 3
Duration: 2:00

Now is the month of maying,
When merry lads are playing,
Fa la la la la la la la la,
Fa la la la la la lah.
Each with his bonny lass
Upon the greeny grass.
Fa la la, etc...

The Spring, clad all in gladness,
Doth laugh at Winter's sadness,
Fa la la, etc...
And to the bagpipe's sound
The nymphs tread out their ground.
Fa la la, etc...

Fie then! why sit we musing,
Youth's sweet delight refusing?
Fa la la, etc...
Say, dainty nymphs, and speak,
Shall we play barley break?
Fa la la etc...

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