All You That Are Good Fellows

A Merry Christmas Carol

Words and Music: English Traditional
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF

Source: William Henry Husk, Songs of the Nativity (London: John Camden Hotten, 1868)

1. All you that are good fellows,
Come hearken to my song;
I know you do not hate good cheer,
Nor liquor that is strong.
I hope there is none here
But soon will take my part,
Seeing my master and my dame
Say welcome with their heart.

2. This is a time of joyfulness
And merry time of year,
When as the rich with plenty stor'd
Do make the poor good cheer.
Plum porridge, roast beer, and mince pies
Stand smoking on the board,
With other brave varieties
Our master doth afford.

3. Our mistress and her cleanly maids
Have neatly play'd the cooks;
Methinks these dishes eagerly
At my sharp stomach looks,
As though they were afraid
To see me draw my blade;
But I reveng'd on them will be
Until my stomach's stay'd.

4. Come fill us of the strongest,
Small drink is out of date;
Methinks I shall fare like a prince
And sit in gallant state.
This is no miser's feast,
Although that things be deer;
God grant the founder of this feast
Each Christmas keep good cheer.

5. This day for Christ we celebrate,
Who was born at this time;
For which all Christians should rejoice
And I do sing in rhyme.
When you have given thanks
Unto your dainties fall;
Heav'n bless my master and my dame,
Lord bless me and you all.

Sheet Music from William Henry Husk, Songs of the Nativity (London: John Camden Hotten, 1868)

Husk's Note:

This carol originally appeared in a collection of "Good and true, fresh and new, Christmas Carols," printed in black letter "by E. P. for Francis Coles, dwelling in the Old Bailey," in the year 1642, a copy of which is preserved amongst the books of Anthony à Wood [1632-1695], the antiquary, in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.

Also found in Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), p. 234. She gives her source as 'New Christmas Carols' (Oxford, no date).

Also found in A. H. Bullen, A Christmas Garland (London: John C. Nimmo, 1885), pp. 192-3, giving the source as "New Christmas Carols."

From William Chappell, The Ballad Literature and Popular Music of the Olden Time. London: Chappell & Co., 1859, pp. 150-1.

I have not found any song or ballad commencing “All you ‘that love good fellows,” although so frequently quoted as a tune; but there are several “All you that are,” and “All you that be good fellows,” which, from similarity of metre, I assume to be intended for the same air.

In a chap-book called “The arraigning and indicting of Sir John Barleycorn, knight; newly composed by a well-wisher to Sir John, and all that love him,” are, two songs, “All you that are good fellows,” and “All you that be good fellows,’ “to the tune of Sir John Barleycorn, or Jack of all Trades.” Lowndes speaks of this tract as printed for T. Passenger in 1675, and of the author as Thomas Robins; but there are Aldermary and Bow Church-yard editions of later date.

Another “All you that are good fellows” is here printed to the shorter copy of the tune It is from a little black-letter volume (in Wood’s library, Ashmolean Museum) entitled “Good and true, fresh and new Christmas Carols,” &c., printed by E. P. for Francis Coles, dwelling in the Old Bailey, 1642. It is one of the merry Christmas carols, and to be sung to the tune of "All you that are good fellows."

        MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF

This is a time of joyfulness,
    And merry time of year,
When as the rich with plenty stor’d
    Do make the poor good cheer.
Plum-porridge, roast beef, and mined pies,
    Stand smoking on the board;
With other brave varieties,
    Our master doth afford.

Our mistress and her cleanly maids
    Have neatly play’d the cooks;
Methinks these dishes eagerly
    At my sharp stomach looks,
As though they were afraid
    To see me draw my blade;
But I revenged on them will be,
    Until my stomach’s stay’d.

Come fill us of the strongest,
    Small drink is out of date;
Methinks I shall fare like a prince,
    And sit in gallant state
This is no miser’s feast,
    Although that things be dear;
God grant the founder of this feast
    Each Christmas keep good cheer.

This day for Christ we celebrate,
    Who was born at this time;
For which all Christians should rejoice,
    And I do sing in rhyme.
When you have given thanks,
    Unto your dainties fall,
Heav’n bless my master and my dame,
    Lord bless me, and you all.