Dancing At Whitsun

from Song Diary by Rosie Hodgson & Rowan Piggott

supported by

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

£1 GBP or more
Buy the Full Digital Album

about

Austin John Marshall wrote 'Dancing At Whitsun' to the tune of 'The Week Before Easter', as a tribute to the women who took up morris dancing during the First World War, when the male mortality rate in some English towns and villages approached seventy percent.

Rosie learnt it from her mum. Merry Whitsun!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgpdUa5MBvc

lyrics

It's fifty long springtimes since she was a bride,
But still you may see her at each Whitsuntide
In a dress of white linen and ribbons of green,
As green as her memories of loving.

The feet that were nimble tread carefully now,
As gentle a measure as age do allow,
Through groves of white blossom, by fields of young corn,
Where once she was pledged to her true love.

The fields they are empty, the hedges grow free,
No young men to tend them, all pastures to seed.
They've gone where the forests of oak trees before
Had gone to be wasted in battle.

Down from their green farmlands and from their loved ones
Marched husbands and brothers and fathers and sons.
There's a fine roll of honour where the Maypole once stood,
And the ladies go dancing at Whitsun.

There's a row of straight houses in these latter days
Are covering the Downs where the sheep used to graze.
There's a field of red poppies, a wreath from the Queen.
And the ladies go dancing at Whitsun.
And the ladies remember at Whitsun...

credits

from Song Diary, released May 23, 2018
Austin John Marshall

license

about

Rosie Hodgson England, UK

Rosie is a folk singer/songwriter from Midhurst, West Sussex. Having grown up surrounded by traditional music, her voice possesses a naturalness and maturity, bringing "a ruby-richness to lyrics new and old". (Folk Radio UK)

Rosie is currently touring with her trio, The Wilderness Yet. ... more

rosiehodgson.com

Recommendations

contact / help

Contact Rosie Hodgson

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

Rosie Hodgson recommends:

Mountscribe
by Rowan Piggott

Rowan's debut album... I threw a few BV's and clog-stepping on this :-) Rosie Hodgson
go to album
SONGHIVE (Online Edition)
by Various Artists

Our Songhive compilation album to save the bees! Rosie Hodgson
go to album

If you like Rosie Hodgson, you may also like:

John O' Dreams
by The Wilderness Yet

supported by 24 fans who also own “Dancing At Whitsun”
go to album
What Holds The World Together
by The Wilderness Yet

supported by 18 fans who also own “Dancing At Whitsun”

Rosie's voice is so pure and sweet, yet so rich and full of character. And when the three of them sing together (as on "Old Brock"), it's really magical. Their special music is certainly What Holds The World Together for me. John Fisher
go to album
Endurance Soundly Caged
by Stick In The Wheel

Adapting their calculated standards into a raw, live setting, the radical UK folk duo rework six highlights from their spellbindincatalogue. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 7, 2022
go to album
Mild Terror / Ice Cave Single
by Jack Sharp

A freaky folk holiday single from the lead guitarist of British psych rockers Wolf People celebrates winter chill. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 5, 2019
go to album