The Laundry Carol

For Christmas

Words: Vivens urous e countènt¹

English Translation by the Rev. J. O'Connor

Music: A Provençal Noël.

Source: Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #82, pp. 8-9.

Allegro giocoso (One beat in a bar)

1. Why not be for ever gay,
            Bregado?²
Why not be for ever gay?
Since from this holiest night-fall
Good guidance is ours for aye.
Why not be for ever gay,
            Bregado?
Why not be for ever gay?
Our Sire and Eve through the ages
Are yearning to see this day.
Why not be for ever gay,
            Bregado?
Why not be for ever gay?

2. Why not be for ever gay,
            Bregado?
Why not be for ever gay?
Twas an ill days work they did us
So early, that worthy pair.
Why not be for ever gay,
            Bregado?
Why not be for ever gay?
They heaped an enormous washing
They both made it their affair,
Why not be for ever gay,
            Bregado?
Why not be for ever gay?

3. Why not be for ever gay,
            Bregado?
Why not be for ever gay?
Mother Eve started the laundry
But bleached it without the sun,
Why not be for ever gay,
            Bregado?
Why not be for ever gay?
They both of them paid it attention
Yet not very much was done.
Why not be for ever gay,
            Bregado?
Why not be for ever gay?

4. Why not be for ever gay,
            Bregado?
Why not be for ever gay?
Now 'tis a-day in the sunshine
A-flaunting it in the breeze;
Why not be for ever gay,
            Bregado?
Why not be for ever gay?
You might say 'tis ready for folding,
Let ev'ry one stand at ease.
Why not be for ever gay,
            Bregado?
Why not be for ever gay?

Sheet Music from Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #82, pp. 8-9.

Notes from Rev. Terry:

1. This carol defies literal translation. The English equivalents of its mere words and phrases make nonsense. To Mr. F. Whitehead's scholarly acquaintance with Medieval and Romance languages I owe the following solution. The idea (expressed in crude and homely vernacular) would seem to be: – Adam and Eve did some washing, i.e., made a frantic attempt to undo the consequences of their first sin. Having made a mess of their washing they can only wait helplessly until the sun comes out o dry it. Now, with the birth of “The Sun of Righteousness” and the fulfilment of prophecy, the washing is dried. In other words, the Redemption is finished. The carol is an interesting example of the rustic mind attempting to be symbolical and subtle. Return.

2. Bragado = a troop of shepherds. Return.

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