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.