"May Song" by the Oxfordshire folk band Magpie Lane

 

 

Winter time has gone and past-o,

Summer time has come at last-o.

We shall sing and dance the day

And follow the 'obby 'orse that brings the May.

So, Hail! Hail! The First of May-o!

For it is the first summer's day-o!

Cast you cares and fears away,

Drink to the old horse on the First of May!

Blue bells they have started to ring-o,

And true love, it is the thing-o.

Love on any other day

Is never quite the same as on the First of May!

Never let it come to pass-o

We should fail to raise a glass-o!

Unto those now gone away

And left us the 'obby 'orse that brings the May!

      I love old-English folk songs, being a self-confessed anglophile. According to the Wikipedia, the earliest known May celebrations appeared with the Floralia, festival of Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers, held from 27 April – 3 May during the Roman Republic era. It opened with theatrical and dance performances. Ovid says that hares and goats were released as part of the festivities, celebrating the beginning of Summer.