User:Grover cleveland/A Merry Christmas

Possible earlier origin?
https://www.newspapers.com/image/136201576/?terms=%22a%2Bmerry%2Bchristmas%22%2Bwarrell

"Reminded me of my mother".

Another possible earlier origin
Daily Bristol Times and Mirror, 1870-01-13

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000983/18700113/080/0004

KEN [KENN], NEAR CLEVEDON, On Friday evening, the vicar of this pariah, the Rev. J. Acres, gave his annual entertainment to the church choir, and the children of the National school. The schoolroom had been tastefully decorated for the occasion bv the schoolmistress, Miss Davis, who gained much applause during the evening for two well-delivered readings, her own composition -- "Some lines written the late Mr. George Peabody" and a short "Fairy tale." After tea, the vicar made a few remarks, in the course of which expressed his regret that they had not with them Mrs. John Griffin or any of the family, in consequence of the accident that had happened to one of the younger sons. He was glad, however, to have the presence and support of his friends the churchwardens, Mr. John Rowles and Mr. Henry WalL Mr. Rowles had kindly given most substantial help towards that evening's expenses, and it was the mutual desire and wish of both churchwardens to give every encouragement to the choir, whose kind services they fully appreciated. Having, in appropriate terms, acknowledged the kindness of other friends whose presence that evening gladly recognised, the vicar proceeded to bear testimony to the services of the choir, which had on all occasions been most efficient. The tea tables were then removed, preparatory to the distribution of presents from a Christmas-tree, the choir very nicely rendering "So we wish you a merry Christmas and happy New Year.” The vicar then distributed a gift to every one in the room. Some readings followed, interspersed with several carols, which were admirably sung by the choir, and elicited great applause. Some good songs were also sung by Mr. Henry Wall. Mrs.Rowles, Mrs. Henry Wall, and others. The applause with which they were greeted showed they were fully appreciated by the audience. At the suggestion of Mr. John Rowles, a vote thanks was awarded to the vicar for his kindness, and thanks having also been given to the choir for their services, the proceedings concluded with singing the National Anthem.

The Western Gazette, 1878-12-20

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000406/18781220/064/0006

SOMERTON. The Death or the Princess Alice.—On Monday last, the ringers attended the church for their usual practice, but, on being informed the Vicar of the above event, they muffled the bells and rang a peal. Mutual Instruction Society.—On Monday, meetin of iie members was held to consider the position the society, when about 37 persons attended. It was stated that there had not been any-falling off in the number of members, and that the finances of the Society were in satisfactory condition ; but that the interest shown in the meetings had somewhat abated. decided opinion was expressed that the Society must be kept up, and the subscriptions paid the Reading Rcom for 1879. The question of providing mote entertainments, lectures, kc., occupied the meeting some time, and it was decided to make greater efforts in that direction. A Concert was held the Town Hall on Tuesday evening, by ladies and gentlemen of the town and neighbourhood, in aid of the soup kitchen. The hall was tolerably well filled by highly respectable audience. The following programme, taking it on the whole, was creditably gone through Instrumental music, Messrs. and Miss Bennett; glee, "O by Rivers," choir; song, "I Wish You a Merry Christmas," Miss Watts; song, "Thy Face," Miss Braine;

An earlier composition
https://books.google.com/books?id=IT0hAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA890&lpg=PA890&dq=holton+%22wish+you+a+merry+christmas%22&source=bl&ots=EKKZark3-W&sig=2zV0cJnnqZ14IukvmolK7FyRmlE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiUo9f8oJ7YAhUqxFQKHZQcBPUQ6AEIUjAM#v=onepage&q=holton%20%22wish%20you%20a%20merry%20christmas%22&f=false

"We wish you a merry christmas"

Lorenz

Words May Huntingdon Davis

Music "Fred B. Holton" (penname of Ira B. Wilson)

Pocketfull of money
https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.34132/2015.34132.Earlier-English-Drama-From-Robin-Hood-To-Everyman#page/n29/mode/2up/search (early 19th century allegedly)

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000094/18360216/014/0004 (1836)

https://archive.org/stream/glossaryofnortha02bakeuoft#page/432/mode/2up (1854) See also https://archive.org/stream/ancientpoemsbal00dixogoog#page/n160/mode/2up/

Isle of man: https://archive.org/stream/monamiscellanya00socigoog#page/n190/mode/2up (1858)

Cheese and gingerbread
https://archive.org/stream/aglossaryyorksh00robgoog#page/n50/mode/2up (1855)

God bless the master of this house
https://archive.org/stream/garland00hott#page/n193/mode/2up (time of James I ????)

MA broadside
https://archive.org/stream/broadsidesballad00fordrich#page/188/mode/2up (1676)

Not really the same thing.

Warrell
"West Country traditional song arr. Arthur Warrell; mixed voices."
 * Registered for US Copyright June 1935: https://archive.org/details/catalogofcopyrig303libr/page/1058/mode/2up

Post-Warrell music publications

 * https://archive.org/stream/catalogofcopyrig373libr#page/128/mode/2up arr. Krone (Copyright entry) (1941) (1940 https://www.amazon.com/Merry-Christmas-English-Two-equal-Voices/dp/B00MWH7VWE ) (1941 https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/we-wish-you-a-merry-christmas-sheet-music/260020 ) ("We Wish" -- English traditional: Kjos)
 * https://archive.org/stream/canadiansingerbo05beat#page/92/mode/2up "The Canadian Singer Book 5" (1946) ("We": English carol; Gage: Toronto) "Go bake us a Christmas pudding, and bring some out here", "We won't go until we get some".
 * https://archive.org/stream/pianoaccompanime00pitt#page/64/mode/2up "Piano Accompaniments for Singing on our Way" (1949) ("I wish"; "Oh, bring us some figgy pudding"; no refrain or 3rd verse. Cornish folk tune: Ginn; no acknowledgement)
 * https://archive.org/stream/oursingingworlds00pitt_1#page/98/mode/2up "Our Singing World: Singing Every Day" (> 1949): "We" "Cornish folk tune": Ginn: Toronto)


 * Words: "good tidings to you wherever you are; good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year". https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91251561/the-breese-journal/ (1952)
 * https://archive.org/stream/moresongstogrowo00land#page/56/mode/2up "More Songs to Grow On" (1954). Copyright OUP.  Changes end of melody.  "We".  "Oh bring us a figgy pudding And a cup of good cheer"; "For we like figgy pudding".
 * https://archive.org/details/lp_more-songs-to-grow-on_alan-mills/disc1/02.04.+Two+In+The+Middle.mp3 "More Songs to Grow On" (LP)
 * https://archive.org/stream/musicforlivingmumurs_0#page/142/mode/2up "Music for Living: Music in Our Town (1956). Music = Warrell. "We".  2. "And bring IT out here".  3. No "all".  4. "Won't go until we get some".  No copyright ack.
 * https://archive.org/stream/musicthroughyear00wolf#page/64/mode/2up "Music Through The Year" (1958??) Ed. Krone.  Music = Warrell.  Ref. "Good tidings for Christmas and a happy new year".  2. "bring it out here".  verses 3-4 switched.3. "all LOVE figgy pudding".  4. "we get some".
 * https://archive.org/details/singalongplayalo00scha/page/14/mode/2up "Sing along, play along" (1959) "Traditional English". ""Good tidings to you, Wherever you are, Good tidings for Christmas, And a happy New Year!"
 * https://archive.org/stream/christmassongboo00newy#page/92/mode/2up "Christmas Songbook" (1960): "Good tidings to you, and all of your kin, Good tidiings for Christmas"
 * https://archive.org/details/lp_hark-ye-shepherds-carols-at-christmastide_alfred-deller-deller-consort/disc1/02.02.+4.+Joseph+Dearest-+5.+I+Saw+Three+Ships+-+6.+How+Far+Is+It+To+Bethlehem%3F.mp3 (performance by Deller Consort) ("English West Country Traditional Song"). Sounds like Warrell's arrangement.