The Mummer's Dance
A Springtime Journey: Unveiling Nature's Dance
Lyrics
When in the springtime of the year
Refers to the spring season, a time of renewal and growth.
When the trees are crowned with leaves
Describes the flourishing trees with their full foliage.
When the ash and oak, and the birch and yew
Mentions specific tree types—ash, oak, birch, and yew—adorned with ribbons.
Are dressed in ribbons fair.
Imagery of trees adorned with decorative ribbons.
When owls call the breathless moon
Describes the mystical atmosphere when owls hoot under the moon.
In the blue veil of the night
Highlights the moonlit night sky.
When shadows of the trees appear
Mentions shadows of trees visible amidst lantern light.
Amidst the lantern's light.
Depicts a serene scene with lanterns illuminating the night.
We've been rambling all the night
Indicates a night of wandering or journeying.
And sometime of this day
Suggests the passage of time during the day.
Now returning back again
Refers to returning after a night of rambling.
We bring a garland gay.
Presents a joyful offering—a gay garland.
Who will go down to those shady groves
Poses a question about who will visit shady groves and engage with the shadows.
And summon the shadows there
Asks for the act of tying a ribbon to sheltering tree arms in spring.
And tie a ribbon on those sheltering arms
Continues the imagery of adorning trees with ribbons.
In the springtime of the year.
Reiterates the springtime context and the ritualistic act described.
The sounds of birds seem to fill the wood
Describes the enchanting sounds of birds filling the woods.
And when the fiddler plays
References a fiddler playing music in the wood.
All their voices can be heard
States that the voices of birds can be heard long after their woodland days.
Long past their woodland days.
Indicates a lingering presence of nature's sounds.
We've been rambling all the night
Repeats the theme of wandering throughout the night.
And sometime of this day
Repeats the notion of time passing during the day.
Now returning back again
Reiterates the return after a night of wandering.
We bring a garland gay.
Repeats the joyful offering of a gay garland.
And so they linked their hands and danced
Describes a communal dance with linked hands in circles and rows.
'round in circles and in rows
Emphasizes the dance and its circular and row formations.
And so the journey of the night descends
Portrays the descent of the night journey as shadows disappear.
When all the shades are gone.
Highlights the end of the night and disappearance of shadows.
A garland gay we bring you here
Repeats the joyful presentation of a gay garland.
And at your door we stand
Symbolizes standing at someone's door with a sprout as an offering.
Here's a sprout, well budded out
Describes the sprout as a well-budded creation, attributed to a higher power.
The work of our Lord's hand.
Acknowledges the work of a divine being in the creation of nature.
We've been rambling all the night
Repeats the theme of wandering throughout the night.
And sometime of this day
Repeats the notion of time passing during the day.
Now returning back again
Reiterates the return after a night of wandering.
We bring a garland gay.
Repeats the
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