May Day Songs
These two traditionally May Day congregational songs, words written by Isaac Sorensen and set to what they called an old tune, were in use as early as the 1870’s. They are perhaps the oldest part of the “Original” Mendon May Day, to be handed down to us and still carried out each year. The music for these songs was not set down in note form, as we have it now until 1964. Prior to this time they have just been stored in the collective memory of the May Day accompanists and handed down every other generation or so, as required. May Day piano accompanists which I remember are from past to recent: Nancy Hunt Ladle; Mozelle Barrett Sorensen; and currently Norma Baker Myers . These three women will account for the bulk of all May Day celebrations since at least the 1930’s. Of course others have played as it as needed, Beth Muir is one of course that comes to mind.
Congregational Songs
Straying and Maying
The merry maids a maying went
One morning bright and early,
The flow’rs were blooming, grass was green
The dew-drops bright and pearly;
The wind was pleasant, soft and sweet
And all were filled with joy to meet.
While straying and maying
While straying and maying,
Amid the early blooming flow’rs
Amid the early blooming flow’rs.
The lovely maids now here and there
With baskets filled with blossoms,
They culled the flow’rs of white and blue
To deck their heads and bosoms;
And sang with air of sweet content
As though the winding fields they went.
Chorus
With cheerful glee and chorus song
The hours were filled with pleasure,
Some found a pebble, some a flow’r
Each trifle seemed a treasure;
For trifles light as air can please
The guiless heart in hours of ease.
Chorus
Come to the Woodland
Come to the woodland away away!
Gathering flow’rs for the Queen of May.
Ev’rything lovely and bright and rare,
Weaving a garland for one so fair.
Sing with the wild birds a song today!
_____ , our _____ , is Queen of May,
Oh! ____ , our ____ , is Queen of May!
Down in the meadow beyond the brook,
Blossoms are found like and open book.
Rev’rantly gather each pearly gem,
One who so loves us has cared for them.
Heaven is wearing a smile today!
____ , our ____ , is Queen of May,
Oh! ____ , our ____ , is Queen of May!