Dancing at Whitsun
Whitsun's Dance of Memories: A Timeless Tale in Green and White
Lyrics
It's fifty long springtimes since she was a bride,
It has been fifty springtimes since she got married.
But still you may see her at each Whitsuntide
Even now, every Whitsuntide, she can be seen participating in the festivities.
In a dress of white linen with ribbons of green,
She wears a white linen dress with green ribbons.
As green as her memories of loving.
The green color symbolizes her memories of love.
The feet that were nimble tread carefully now,
Her once nimble feet now tread carefully, limited by age.
As gentle a measure as age will allow,
She moves with a gentle measure through blossoming groves and fields of young corn.
Through groves of white blossoms, by fields of young corn,
These were the places where she was once pledged to her true love.
Where once she was pledged to her true-love.
The fields they stand empty, the hedges grow (go) free--
No one is turning the fields or sowing seeds, as the young men have gone, likely to war.
No young men to turn them or pastures go see (seed)
The forest of oak trees, once present, has disappeared in battles.
They are gone where the forest of oak trees before
Have gone, to be wasted in battle.
Husbands, brothers, fathers, and sons have marched away from the green farmlands and loved ones.
Down from the green farmlands and from their loved ones
Marched husbands and brothers and fathers and sons.
In these latter days, houses cover the downs where sheep used to graze.
There's a fine roll of honor where the Maypole once stood,
There's a field of red poppies, a gift from the Queen, but the ladies remember the past at Whitsun.
And the ladies go dancing at Whitsun.
The ladies continue to dance at Whitsun, carrying on the tradition despite the changes.
There's a straight row of houses in these latter days
All covering the downs where the sheep used to graze.
-There's a field of red poppies (a gift from the Queen)
-But the ladies remember at Whitsun,
-And the ladies go dancing at Whitsun.
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