Deck the Halls With Boughs of Holly is a popular, secular carol of
Welsh origin. Mozart uses a bit of it as the theme of a composition for violin
and piano; later, Haydn used it in
the song New Year’s Night – proving
that great artists only borrow the best.
The words Follow me in merry measure suggest that
the singers would dance about as they sang, much as they would in a ring dance,
the original meaning of the word carol.
The tune
was first found in a musical manuscript by Welsh harpist John Parry Ddall (1710-1782), but is believe to be much older than
that. The version we are most familiar
with today was found in The Song Book,
edited by John Hullah, published in
1866. The translated lyrics are
attributed to Thomas Oliphant. The lyrics of 1877 and 1881, known best by contemporary
readers, are:
Deck the hall with
boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la la la
la la.
‘Tis the season to be
jolly,
Fa la la la la la la
la la.
Don we now our gay
apparel
Troll the ancient
Christmas carol,
Fa la la la la la la
la la.
See the blazing yule
before us,
Fa la la la la la la
la la.
Strike the harp and
join the chorus.
Fa la la la la la la
la la.
Follow me in merry
measure,
While I tell of
Christmas treasure,
Fa la la la la la la
la la.
Fast away the old year
passes,
Fa la la la la la la
la la.
Hail the new, ye lads
and lasses!
Fa la la la la la la
la la.
Sing we joyous all
together,
Heedless of the wind
and weather,
Fa la la la la la la
la la.
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