Welcome In the May

By Elton Wildermuth, 1995

See the sun coming up on a May morning
and rise to greet the day-O;
come and gather in the meadow where the mockingbirds sing
to welcome in the May.
We were there last night when the dark drew down:
we set the bonfires leaping,
then we vanished in the heather and we couldn't be found
until the dawn came creeping.

Did it get a little warm around the fire last night?
Were the flames a little higher than they had the right?
Was your breath a little heavy and your dress a little tight
and the moon too bright for sleeping?

Come and dance with the 'oss and welcome him
all decked in garlands gay-O;
come and cut a little caper with a devilish grin
to welcome in the May.
We were out last night for to cut the birch:
we had it in our keeping,
but we dallied and we tarried and we carried our search
until the sun came peeping.

See the sun coming up on a May morning
and rise to greet the day-O;
come and gather in the meadow where the mockingbirds sing
to welcome in the May.
Now we've sown our seed and we've ploughed our fields
in May-day's custom keeping;
come the winter, we will celebrate a bountiful yield
for February's reaping.