Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band - Wassail! Lyrics

A wassail, a wassail all over the town
Our cup is white and our ale is brown
Our cup is made of the white maple tree
With a wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.

O master and mistress, oh are you within?
Pray open the door-knob and let us come in.
O master and mistress sitting down by the fire,
See us wassailers a-travelling in the mire.

There was an old man and he had an old cow,
And how for to keep her he didn't know how,
He built up a barn for to keep his cow warm,
And a drop of strong beer will do us no harm.

Here's to the maid in the lily white smock,
Who tripped to the door and slipped back the lock.
Who tripped to the door and pulled back on the pin
For to let these jolly wassailers in.