Inspired by the May traditions of Padstow, Cornwall, Dave Webber's May Song is a fine modern Beltane song in traditional idiom, heard here in a rousing performance by Magpie Lane.
The traditional May Day Hobby Horse's dance of sex, death, and resurrection has no known historical connection with the widespread and deeply sacred horse-sacrifices of the ancient Indo-European world.
None whatsoever.
May Song
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 your 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!
Chorus
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!
Chorus
(repeat first verse)
Tune and Lyrics: Dave Webber
For more on the horse-sacrifices of the ancient world, see:
M. L. West, Indo-European Myth and Poetry (2007), Oxford, pp. 417-419
For the perfect little tale about the making of the White Horse of Uffington, see:
Rosemary Sutcliff, Sun Horse, Moon Horse (1997). Bodley Head.
For Kay: who brought it in
"Just because he don't wear the horn don't say it ain't him, now, the Old Lad: at all, at all."