Join us each month in song!
Since 2016—our designated Year of Song—CDSS has featured a traditional song each month. Lorraine Hammond spearheaded this effort, and it was such a popular feature that Judy Cook volunteered to continue the tradition in 2017 and beyond.
Note: Many of these old songs should be looked at as “fairy tales for adults” in that they often address very strong, and sometimes scary, subject matter. They allow us to deal with difficult situations and emotions with the distance afforded by putting it in a song. They are cautionary tales, and had their use as such.
This month’s song:
- December 2024: Bring the New Year In
Submitted by Pete Coe
Mummers’ plays are performed at Christmas (mainly in Southern England), All Souls (Cheshire), and Easter (Lancashire and Yorkshire).
The story is always the same. A hero (usually St. George) is challenged and fights another champion (Prince of Paradise). One of them is killed, usually the challenger. A doctor is called for, who administers a miracle cure to bring the dead back to life. The play ends with various characters, including Beelzebub who collects from the crowd, often with menaces.
The plays date back to the 17th century and seem to be based on a variety of plays performed at country fairs. Theories that these plays represent death and resurrection, the passing of the seasons, and have pagan origins are now largely discredited.
The song “Bring The New Year In” was written by Pete Coe for the Long Company Mummers, based in Ripponden, West Yorkshire, who perform their play on 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th January only (age and health permitting).
Listen to Long Company singing “Bring the New Year In:”
Listen to Finest Kind’s version of “Bring the New Year In:”
Lyrics
In comes Old King Christmas, all dressed in green and gold
And may he never be forgot, his story left untold
For it’s once a year he brings good cheer, our spirits to engage
The like was never seen before on any common stage:Chorus:
For we are not of the ragged sort, but some of royal trim
We’ll sweep away the old year and bring the new year in.In then comes Saint George, that noble champion bold
Who fought the fiery dragon, made the tyrant’s blood run cold
And as through this world he wanders to fulfil his destiny
Well, they must die who dare to try and challenge liberty:[Chorus]
In comes a valiant soldier, Prince Paradise by name
With sword and shield he will not yield, and hopes to win more fame
So it’s of these noble champions, both born of high renown
And they have made a solemn vow to pull the order down:[Chorus]
In then comes a working man, they call him Common Jack
He puts food inside our bellies, and clothes upon our back
Hard labor is his destiny, from the moment of his birth
And the rich take all the money, for the poor will take the earth:[Chorus]
And in then comes a doctor, as plainly doth appear
And by his art he’ll play his part, he travels far and near
With his lotions and his potions, to ease us of our pain
With bitter pills to cure all ills, see England rise again:[Chorus]
In then comes Beelzebub, a name forever cursed
He’s before you, he’s behind you, he’s the last that would be first
Put your hands into your pockets, your money he do crave
To see this play you must pay, or join him in the grave:[Chorus]
Pete Coe has had more than 50 years of music making on the English folk scene. His contributions include traditional song research, song writing in traditional style, the founding of several seminal bands (the founder member and visionary force behind The New Victory Band, Bandoggs and Red Shift), plus solo and duo performances, dance calling, recording, field research, local folk activism in Ryburn Three Step, and teaching at various levels. Together with his wife, Sue, he received the Gold Badge Award from the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) in 2016 for their outstanding contributions to folk dance, music or song.
Past Songs
- November 2024: Jolly Roving Tar
- October 2024: There Is a Tavern
- September 2024: Waterbound
- August 2024: The Cuckoo
- July 2024: Matty Groves
- June 2024: Tree of Life
- May 2024: Seth Davy
- April 2024: Cobweb of Dreams
- March 2024: The Badger Drive
- February 2024: I Wonder When I Shall Be Married
- January 2024: The Hills of Tandragee
- December 2023: Christmas in the Trenches
- November 2023: The Handsome Cabin Boy
- October 2023: Seal Lullaby
- September 2023: Cock Robin
- August 2023: Dives and Lazarus
- July 2023: How to Make Love
- June 2023: The Lazy Farmer
- May 2023: We’re All Jolly Fellows that Follow the Plough
- April 2023: Reynardine
- March 2023: Free and Easy to Ramble Along
- February 2023: The Rose in June
- January 2023: Bed Is Too Small
- December 2022: Jack Ashton
- November 2022: Wild Mountain Thyme
- October 2022: I’ve Lived in Service
- September 2022: London Town
- August 2022: Yuba Dam
- July 2022: Bibble A La Do
- June 2022: The Golden Willow Tree
- May 2022: Ford o’ Kabul River
- April 2022: Bold Riley
- March 2022: The Foggy Dew
- February 2022: Scarborough Settler’s Lament
- January 2022: Tom o’Bedlam’s Song
- December 2021: We Shepherds Be the Best of Men
- November 2021: Catch Me If You Can
- October 2021: Somebody’s Waiting for Me / Country Garden
- September 2021: The Water Is Wide
- August 2021: Springfield Mountain
- July 2021: Shove the Grog Around (Shanty Song)
- June 2021: The Cruel Mother
- May 2021: Katie Catch
- April 2021: A Pilgrim’s Way
- March 2021: Glenlogie
- February 2021: Sprig of Thyme
- January 2021: Lord Bateman
- December 2020: Brave Boys
- November 2020: Abroad as I Was Walking
- October 2020: The Dowie Dens o’ Yarrow
- September 2020: The Setting of the Sun
- August 2020: Annachie Gordon
- July 2020: Stand Steady
- June 2020: Braw Lads of Galla-water
- May 2020: The Lincolnshire Poacher
- April 2020: The Hills of Mexico
- March 2020: I Saw Three Ships
- February 2020: The Trooper and the Tailor
- January 2020: Lost on the Lady Elgin
- December 2019: Bright Phoebe
- November 2019: Tickle Cove Pond
- October 2019: I’m Going Back to North Carolina
- September 2019: For the Company Underground
- August 2019: The Maid of Sweet Gurteen
- July 2019: Starving to Death on a Government Claim
- June 2019: Annan Water
- May 2019: The Shearin’s No’ For You
- April 2019: Shady Grove
- March 2019: Bedlam
- February 2019: The Bonny Bunch of Roses
- January 2019: Ambletown
- December 2018: Throw Open Your Shutters
- November 2018: The Wild Rover
- October 2018: She’s Like the Swallow
- September 2018: The Night Guard
- August 2018: Here’s Adieu to All Judges and Juries
- July 2018: Sailing
- June 2018: Earl o’Bran
- May 2018: Georgie
- April 2018: A Sailor’s Life
- March 2018: The Banks of Red Roses
- February 2018: The Boy That Wore The Blue
- January 2018: The Bay Of Biscay
- December 2017: Song, Composed in August
- November 2017: The Devil Buck
- October 2017: Double Sledder Lad
- September 2017: Sweet William’s Ghost
- August 2017: Welcome Home My Sailor
- July 2017: Drive Dull Care Away
- June 2017: When I Went for to Take My Leave
- May 2017: Bonnie Annie
- April 2017: The Death of Bill Brown
- March 2017: Money Is King
- February 2017: Tha Sneachd’Air Druim Uachdair
- January 2017: The January Man
- December 2016: Lamb and Lion
- November 2016: Farther On
- October 2016: Skin and Bones
- September 2016: Canaan’s Land
- August 2016: Farmer’s Daughter
- July 2016: Ladies Rejoice
- June 2016: The Press Gang
- May 2016: Dancing at Whitsun
- April 2016: Spring
- March 2016: The Bonnie Blue-Eyed Lassie
- February 2016: Paper of Pins
- January 2016: May It Fill Your Soul