THE HOLLY AND THE IVY (FILK)

(Extracted from: atlantia-l@netcom.com)
(From: Meli ferch Iasper (fitzy@intercon.com))
(Edited/marked up by hlf@virginia.edu.)

Subject: FYI: silly: a Christmas carol

Hi folks,

Saw this on rec.music.early, which is partly in period for us, and thought I would share it with y'alle! :)

Cheers,
Meli

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Since the Christmas season is barreling down upon us like a runaway freight train, the following gives an appropriate carol for long-suffering working musicians everywhere. It comes from that wonderful collection "The Dogsbody Papers":

Ye hollye and ye ivye

And ye Christmas tree so faire

Are a mekill peyne to a poore villein

Who hath litel tyme to spare;

O ye scrubbynge of ye lecturne

And ye deckynge of ye tree

And ye blowynge of ye murie organ:

Must they alle be done by me?

Ye hollye beareth prickle

As sharp as any spike;

Ye may stick a briar in our gracious squire

Atte anie tyme ye like;

O ye lightynge of ye candles

And ye polysshynge ye brasse!

Yf this be ye Feudal Systeme,

Rolle on, ye myddel Classe!

-- Willoughbye Dogsbody

According to the carol's notes, there is a rude alternative to the last line.

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