Magical Song of the Week: Summerisle (The Maypole Song)

“Summerisle” is from the Mediaeval Baebes album “Undrentide.” I love its message of birth, death and renewal. This is a fitting song for May, with our Maypole dances held on Beltane a couple days ago.

Traditionally the dances were held around a living tree. Learn more here about the origins of the Maypole dance.

Summerisle (The Maypole Song), on YouTube.

Song Lyrics

In the woods there grew a tree
A fine, fine tree was he

On that tree there was a limb
And on that limb there was a branch
On that branch there was a nest
And in that nest there was an egg
In that egg there was a bird
And from that bird a feather came
Of that feather was a bed

On that bed there was a girl
And on that girl there was a man
From that man there was a seed
And from that seed there was a boy
From that boy there was a man
And for that man there was a grave
From that grave there grew a tree

In Sumerisle, Sumerisle, Sumerisle, Sumerisle, Sumerisle

On that tree there was a limb
And on that limb there was a branch
On that branch there was a nest
And in that nest there was an egg
In that egg there was a bird
And from that bird a feather came
Of that feather was a bed

In Sumerisle, Sumerisle, Sumerisle, Sumerisle, Sumerisle

On that bed there was a girl (Sumerisle, Sumerisle)
And on that girl there was a man (Sumerisle, Sumerisle)
From that man there was a seed (Sumerisle, Sumerisle)
And from that seed there was a boy (Sumerisle, Sumerisle)
From that boy there was a man (Sumerisle, Sumerisle)
And for that man there was a grave
From that grave there grew a tree

(from Metro Lyrics)

I’ll add this short (just 1 minute, 36 seconds!) song to my kitchen playlist this week. I think it will provide just the right extra bit of energy as I’m sweeping my kitchen floor with my wooden broom, feathering my nest and repeating my daily cleaning and renewal ritual!