Come Lasses and Lads

Come Lasses and Lads is a traditional 17th-century British song in 6/8 time signature with a "bright swing" mood, performed during festive dances around the Maypole. Folk words and music. There are many variants of the text, diverging in third-party details.

Text
One of the lyrics of the song: Come, Lasses and Lads, take leave of your Dads, And away to the Maypole hie; For ev'ry fair has a sweetheart there, And the fiddler's standing by. Then Willie shall dance with Jane, And Johnny has got his Joan, And every maid shall trip it, trip it Trip it up and down. (Repeat last two lines)

Let's start, says Dick, Aye aye, says Nick And I prithee, fiddler, play Agreed, says Hugh, and so says Sue, For this is a holiday. Then every lad did doff His hat unto his lass, And every maid did curtsey, curtsey, Curtsey on the grass. (Repeat last two lines)

Begin, says Matt, Aye aye, says Nat We'll lead up Packington's Pound No, no, says Nolly, and so says Dolly We'll first have Sellenger's Round Then every man began To foot it round about And every girl did step it, step it Step it in and out. (Repeat last two lines)

You're out, says Dick, Not I, says Nick 'Twas the fiddler play'd it wrong 'Tis true, says Hugh, and so says Sue And so says every one The fiddler then began To play the tune again And every maid did jig it, jig it Jig it to the men. (Repeat last two lines)

Let's kiss, says Jan, Aye aye, says Nan And so says every she How many says Matt, Why three, says Nat For that is a maiden's fee The men, instead of three Did give them half a score And the maids in kindness, kindness, kindness Give 'em as many more. (Repeat last two lines)

Well there they did stay for the whole of the day And they tired the fiddler quite With dancing and play, without any pay From morning until night. They told the fiddler then That they'd pay him for his play And each a twopence, twopence, twopence Give him, and went away. (Repeat last two lines)

Good night, says Harry, Good night, says Mary Good night, says Dolly to John Good night,' says Sue to her sweetheart Hugh Good night, says everyone Some walked, and some did run Some loitered on the way And they bound themselves with kisses twelve To meet next holiday. (Repeat last two lines)

Fiction
Captain Alexander Smollett in Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island (chapter XХ) whistles the tune of Come Lasses and Lads.

In Hall Caine's novel The Christian, it's Glory's favorite song.

Notable artists

 * David Keith Jones.
 * USSR Ministry of Culture Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dmitry Shostakovich.