Kentucky Wassail

Source: Revels Songbook (ISBN 0-9640836-1-2) "collected by John Jacob Niles, arranged by Marshall Barron, "some stanzas are similar to the Somerset Wassail song.." It also shares elements of the Gloucestershire Wassail.

1. Wassail, wassail, all over the town,
Our cup is white and our ale is brown.
the cup is made from the old oak tree,
And the ale is made in Ken-tuck-y

So it's joy be to you and a jolly wassail!

2. Oh good man and good wife, are you within?
Pray lift the latch and let us come in.
We see you a-sitting at the boot o' the fire,
Not a-thinkin' of us in the mud and the mire.

So it's joy be to you and a jolly wassail!

3. There was an old maid and she lived in a house,
And she had for a pet a tiny wee mouse,
Oh the house had a stove and the house was warm,
And a little bit of liquor won't do no harm.

So it's joy be to you and a jolly wassail!

4. Oh a man in York drank his sack from a pail,
But all we ask is a wee wassail.
Oh, husband and wife, alack, we part,
God bless this house from the bottom of our heart,

So it's joy be to you and a jolly wassail!

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