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No. 1 - Prelude and Opening Ensemble
| Chorus: | May day is hey day, O! May day is hey day, Come gather upon the green! Come lads with the maids, 'Neath Windsor's old shades, We'll dance till the stars are seen; May day's a gay day, O! May day's a gay day, the merriest day of spring! So come ye together, O'er blossoming heather, Your jolliest faces bring! |
| Farmer Blake: | Bustle here and bustle there! Lazy lads make better haste; For all our guests we must prepare, there's little time to waste. Young and old, we shall regale With a cask of nut brown ale! |
| Chorus: | Young and old, we shall not fail To be here to taste that ale; |
| Farmer Blake: | Now to see if this same ale Shall turn out neither flat nor stale, To guard against such sad mishap, This goodly cask I'll straight-way tap, With lusty blow and vigorous rap. |
| Chorus: | Rap tap, Rap tap, Rap tap, Rap tap, Rap tap, Rap tap, Rap tap rap, This goodly cask he'll straight-way tap, With lusty blow and vig'rous rap! |
| Farmer Blake: | I' faith 'tis good! Egad 'tis grand, no better ale in all the land! I'll try again! |
| Dame Blake: | Just wait a bit, Before you sample all of it. |
| Farmer Blake: | What Madame, am I not to try
my brew? I'll know the reason why! |
| Chorus: | May day is hey day, O! May day is hey day, Come gather upon the green! Come lads with the maids, 'Neath Windsor's old shades, We'll dance till the stars are seen; May day's a gay day, O! May day's a gay day, the merriest day of spring! So come ye together, O'er blossoming heather, Your jolliest faces bring! |
| Let all ranks be level today, in honor of the Queen of May, The gallants of Court With your rustical sort May mingle in sport today. Come all ye ladies of high degree, Come Courtiers grand to see; Both wedded and single in gaiety mingle, The Princess our Queen shall be! |
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| Maids of Honor: | Come bow, Will Somers
fiddling wight, We'll make you play for us till night. |
| Courtiers: | Come Will, good lad, we wait for you, Come jester, play a jig or two. Play! lad, play! |
| All: | Play! lad, play! |
| Will Somers: | O, very well, since I am press'd, To inspire ye all I'll do my best. When I draw a lively bow Over the creaking strings, lads! Ev'ry foot in time doth go, While the music rings, lads! Roger there shall dance with Joan, Ronald, he shall trip with True, While I poor devil am left alone To scrape the fiddle for you! Then it's swing your partners left and right, Hands round and dos-à-dos; Round the Maypole tripping light, Lords and Ladies go; You may kiss the girl you love the best, She will not say you nay, You can take a chance in a merry dance Upon the first of May! |
| Chorus: | Then it's swing your partners
left and right, Hands round and dos-à-dos! Round the Maypole tripping light, Lords and Ladies go; You may kiss the girl you love the best, She will not say you nay, You can take a chance in a merry dance Upon the first of May! |
| Will Somers: | Lay your pride for once aside, Ye my Lords and pages! Come, let folly be your guide, That's advice of sages! Lady May shall dance with Tom, Lady Maud shall smile on me, And Milkmaid Sue be merry too, With lords of high degree! Then it's swing your partners left and right, Hands round and dos-à-dos; Round the Maypole tripping light, Lords and Ladies go; You may kiss the girl you love the best, She will not say you nay, You can take a chance in a merry dance Upon the first of May! |
| Chorus: | Then it's swing your partners
left and right, Hands round and dos-à-dos! Round the Maypole tripping light, Lords and Ladies go; You may kiss the girl you love the best, She will not say you nay, You can take a chance in a merry dance Upon the first of May! |
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American Musical Theatre | A Madcap Princess
Page modified 13 January 2017