We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Can Wassel

from Mid​-​Winter Light by IONA

/

about

Gloucestershire Wassail/Can Wassel England/Cornwall 3:46
Wassail, a word that conjures up visions of bundled revelers sharing a hot, spiced alcoholic beverage, is derived from the contraction of the Middle English phrase wæs hæil, meaning "be healthy". Wassailing is alive and well throughout the Celtic lands, and has been handily absorbed into Christmas observances in the singing of carols from house to house, We combine the familiar tune of the Gloucestershire Wassail with a rowdy progression through a Cornish village. The group moves through the village requesting cakes and libation at each door, gradually gathering householders as it progresses and becoming increasingly more inebriated! This has long been one of IONA's audiences' favorites as we exhort them to become the drunken chorus.

lyrics

CAN WASSEL (Wassail Song)

Nadalek yu- gyllys ha’n bledhen noweth ow-tõs
Ygergeugh darrajow h'aberveth gwren dõs. [Translation:
Now Christmas is over and the New Year begin
Pray open your doors and let us come in.]

Chorus:
Gans agan Wassel
Wassel, Wassel, Wassel,
Lowena dh'ahan, jolyf Wassel!
[With our wassail
Wassail, wassail, wassail,
And joy come to our jolly wassail!]

A vêstres, ha mêster, owth-eseda yn chy
Rag drê lys ny mebyon y travyln-ny.
Chorus
[Good mistress and master sitting by the fire
Whilst we poor wassail boys travel the mire.
Chorus]

An chy cõth ma hagar, dynerghy ny a vyn
Ny rês dheugh kedryna sadow üs dhyn.
Chorus
[This ancient old house we'll kindly salute,
It is the old custom you need not dispute.
Chorus]

Otta ny y ‘n lê-ma, yn rew ny a sêf.
Mebyon Wassel fest jollyf gans cogen y ‘n lêf.
[Chorus
We are here in this place, we orderly stand.
We're jolly wassail boys with a bowl in hand.
Chorus]

Ny a wayt agas avellennow bõs spêdys dhe dhõn
Dry newodhow mõs arta omma pan õn.
Chorus
[We hope your apple tress will prosper and bear
And bring forth good tidings when we come next year.
Chorus]

Ny a wayt agas barlys bõs spêdys yn têk
Ma'gas bo lanwes helder mar plêk.
Chorus
[We hope that your barley will prosper and grow
That you may have plenty and more to bestow.
Chorus]

A vêstres, ha mêster, fatel yllough hepcor?
Orth lenwel agan cogen a syder ha cor'!
Chorus
[Good mistress and master, how could you forebear?
Come fill up your bowl with cider and beer!
Chorus]

A vêstres, ha mêster, yn esedhys attês
Whyleugh agas pors ha reugh nebes, my a'th pys.
Chorus
[Good mistress and master, sitting down at your ease,
Put your hands in your pockets and give what you please.
Chorus]

Bennath warnough lemmyn ha bewnans fest hyr
Aban veugh mar g'üf h'gas helsys mar vür.
Chorus
[I wish you a blessing and a long time to live
Since you've been so free and so willing to give.
Chorus]

© 2009 Barnaby Productions Inc.

credits

from Mid​-​Winter Light, released November 19, 2009

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

IONA Washington, D.C.

IONA has been taking its unique brand of traditional Celtic music to festivals, arts centers, schools & house concerts all over North America and Europe since 1986, blending music from the various Celtic traditions with stories and a little humor - Barbara Ryan (vocals, bouzouki, bodhran), Bernard Argent (flute, doumbek), Chuck Lawhorn (bass), Jim Queen (fiddle, banjo) & Kathleen Larrick (dance). ... more

contact / help

Contact IONA

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like IONA, you may also like: