The Midsummer Carol

Twas early I walked on a fine Midsummer's morning
 The fields and the meadows were decked and gay
 The small birds were singing, the woodlands were ringing
 Early in the morning at breaking of day
 I will play on my pipes
 I will sing to thee my lady
 Twas early in the morning at breaking of day
 Arise, love, arise
 Go and gather your love posies
 The fairest of flowers that in yonder garden grows
 Go gather me lilies, carnations and roses
 I'll wear them with pride for the young girl I chose
 Come dress me with flowers, I'm as gay as a king
 I'm as glad as a bird when my carol I sing
 Oh hark love, oh hark love
 The nightingale's a-wooing
 The lark is aloft, piping shrill in the air
 In every green bower, the turtledoves are cooing
 The sun is hot gleaming, arise up my dear
 I've waited all year from Midwinter through to May
 Yes I've waited all year for the dawn of Leman Day
 Arise love, arise love
 In song and in story
 The sun rises high over golden fields of hay
 I'll play thee a tune on my gilded pipes of ivory
 Early in the morning at breaking of day
 I'll play on my pipes
 I will sing to thee my lady
 It's early in the morning at breaking of day