The Watersons "Hal-An-Tow"

[@drumgold23]

RIP Norma thank you for the songs, spells and magic.

[@timward276]

For at least 35 years, the Morris dance community in the Twin Cities of Minnesota gather at dawn on a park by the Mississippi River, and after the morning dances we always sing this song. I've been doing this since 1994, and will wake up in less than 8 hours on what will likely be a chilly, rainy dawn. It defines our season. Keep the tradition alive, everyone, and Happy May Day.

[@allisonforfornsed]

omigosh this touches my heart to hear. I would've loved something like this when I was a child but never had anything like it to go to, I would still love it. Thank you for keeping the tradition alive. :)

[@Wrz2e]

Keep the tradition alive brother

[@scythianking7315]

They're being killed...... by our own people. One of the biggest Morris Dance groups in England is no longer doing the traditional black face paint.... because it's "offensive to black people". These traditions will all be dead within the next 30 years

[@steveduncan9256]

I salute you all and wish you all the best from Scotland xx

[@magnusbruce4051]

Any chance you can show us a video of this, if you're still doing it. I, for one, would love to see it. Cheers.

[@sylkates]

I was raised by neopagans, and each Beltane, we'd sing this. I miss it now that I don't have a local group, so I'm glad I found it here. It gets stuck in my head every May!

[@tarrek]

Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson regularly perform live - now with their daughter, Eliza. Many of the Waterson clan reunited at the Royal Albert Hall last year for an extraordinary concert.

[@jenniferchapman4724]

We sing this song around the Maypole at our school. Its a wonderful tradition! I love this version!

[@patriciaomeara1185]

indeed wonderful, and magic

[@sandramorey2529]

Early days and wonderful traditional singing. Everything on Frost and Fire is wonderful.

[@ennisivy279]

They way they sing this is just so much yes and so many goosebumps.

[@johncurr703]

Our Folk Choir leader ( a beautiful singer herself) describes the tone she wants for various songs by reference to Norma's magnificent "open" tone. ...." We only need 25% Norma for this one"

[@michaeligoe3935]

That's funny :)

[@MeAuntieNora]

This song does something to me.

[@ineffablemars]

You still farting 5 + minutes?

[@alisonbrowning9620]

love, love, love this earthy folk singing

[@alika207]

I am 28 years old today (May Day 2019)! I am a music teacher and love teaching this song to my students this month, and I'm also proud to have been born on May 1! Can't wait for my school's May Fair later this month! Maybe one of my classes will sing this song!

[@guitarnotator]

This music is legendary!

[@caley956]

I believe David Attenborough commissioned this film (by Derrick Knight). One more thing to thank the great man for. He's a bit of a folkie on the quiet you know.....

[@lynnpehrson8826]

I saw him pop up in a documentary about folk, probably talking about this.

[@Jarrahnut]

I saw them in Belfast, in about 1966. Their harmony was astonishing! So were the girls' mini-skirts ... I'd never seen anything like it!

[@cabbage681]

It is heart warming to know there is still a love of our traditional music. It contains our history in song form and when sung with such great harmony it becomes inspiring.

[@Jarrahnut]

Jeez, they were a highlight of my life too! I was completely bowled over by their harmony. I first saw them perform in Belfast in about 1966. They were amazing! Absolutely stunning! Completely unpretentious and down to earth individuals. What a joy! Greetings to one and all from Colin Hugh Abbott in wonderful Western Australia.

[@alanneedham2845]

Sung in streets of Helston Cornwall (with some alterations) on Furry day 8th May each year with a lot more shouting banging of drums etc

[@avirga1]

amazing. Ahh I got goosebumps

[@ciebeline]

Toujours aussi magnifique.

[@AndrewHHems1969]

im from Hull, where they are from and have been in this fine old pub, The Olde White Heart. This gave me goodbumps much. Magical x

[@Lytton333]

It's the Bluebell on Lowgate, but you were close!

[@3DDoor]

powerful performance!

[@mortszram6909]

This is amazing...simply amazing.

[@ineffablemars]

Loved this song for years. I’m not even English but I just love it.

[@davidforbes8557]

The lass can sing! Brilliant...

[@Huffy1001]

The Watersons - Hal-An-Tow (Hull Folk) taken from the 1965 BBC Documentary 'Travelling for a Living'

[@drummerboy1390]

Music in its purest form. Norma is just as enthusiastic onstage today as she was then.

[@mikelisacarb]

This performance bring tears to my eyes every Spring. First, I find myself walking around the house and the little woods where I walk daily, bellowing the chorus as things get warmer and the green begins to appear. Then, it's suddenly May 1st and I'm watching it on KZbin so that I can share them on my Facebook page. For the next week or so, I'm revisiting this video over and over, admiring their absolutely perfect brew of consciously imperfect harmony. Consumate artistry! It's like a bunch of untrained neighborhood singers just happened to spontaneously discover the concept of harmonic vocalizing because Spring has finally arrived!

[@lilahofthebowshapedhill8047]

Since man was first created His works have been debated We have celebrated The coming of the Spring Hal-an-tow, jolly rumble O We were up long before the day O To welcome in the summer, To welcome in the May O The summer is a-coming in And winter's gone away O Take no scorn to wear the horn It was the crest when you was born Your father's father wore it And your father wore it too Hal-an-tow, jolly rumble O We were up long before the day O To welcome in the summer, To welcome in the May O The summer is a-coming in And winter's gone away O God bless Aunt Mary Moyses And all her power and might O And send us peace to England Send peace by day and night O Hal-an-tow, jolly rumble O We were up long before the day O To welcome in the summer, To welcome in the May O The summer is a-coming in And winter's gone away O

[@1shadowfx]

Many thanks for this!

[@lexinaut]

Thanks so much fort supplying the lyrics! I organize a Song Circle, and these lyrics will come in handy! Have a fine day spring day!

[@PoitinCZ]

Beautiful. Keeping the music in our hearts.

[@stonethecrows25]

Travelling for a Living The WatersonsBBC TV documentary (UK, 1965) Derrick Knight (video, UK, 19xx) Topic Records TSDVD549 (DVD, UK, February 16, 2004; part of the Watersons' anthology Mighty River of Song) This is a 1965 BBC TV documentary about the Watersons' life and music.

[@giovannibonaviapela3889]

Wow I mean, this is insane❤

[@kemacoli]

A National Treasure. If this family had not been working class they would have been inundated with praise and reward from the "establishment". Opera? Ballet? Pretentious crap which the supposed supporters do not understand. THIS is MUSIC!!! There, now I feel better.

[@sandramorey2529]

Not only music, but also History. This is where you find the real history.

[@michaeligoe3935]

You can see where Eliza got her stage presence. Norma's on fire here.

[@williamstclaire809]

Awesome ! Love this !

[@TheTombo10]

Pure Magic

[@frankkelch4553]

+TheTombo10 Most definitely.

[@meliakeogh6068]

I haven't been able to go to the Beltane celebration in my city since the pandemic started, and as we get closer to May this makes me feel kinda nostalgic :,)

[@lauroricher51]

Another thank you from Canada!

[@TomBeatster]

That's really beautiful.

[@MrJamie1957]

Great video of a great old tune. I sang this with the Cambridge Revels at the Perkins School Spring Show this year. Thanks for posting.

[@joyofvoice]

Love this! We've done this with my choir. Happy May Day!

[@fiandrhi]

This is perfect. It gives me goosebumps. Thank you.

[@alonsososo1870]

Neniam makvaluas tiu bonega harmonia konto.Watersons vivu !

[@Bobbo293]

Thanks so much for posting this fantastic piece of film. But the smoke in the air is horrific!

[@blindpew69]

This is just amazing. Norma’s voice is so brilliant. What a loss!

[@brigwood7658]

Christ! this is not what I expected. My mum thrashed this album hen I was a kid; the sound track to my first 7 or 8 years (I loved it). I assumed they were old and beardy (or whatever); not kids who look more like the beatles/art students.

[@robsawalker]

You can see where Paul Giovanni found much of his inspiration of the amazing Wicker Man soundtrack with stuff like this (e.g. 'Summer is a comin' in)... Fantastic

[@BNJT]

Which song are you talking about?

[@robsawalker]

BNJT ‘Summer is a cumin’ in’.... the song at the end.

[@Twyfall]

@@robsawalker Sumer is icumen in is actually one of the earliest known medieval english songs!

[@robsawalker]

@@Twyfall yes I am aware, that’s what I mean - and all the rest of the films soundtrack. He took inspiration from lots of old folk.

[@michaeligoe3935]

Norma is the spit of Eliza and she could never deny her.

[@sturdeehouse]

Now there's a lyric that should be in a song

[@MorrisManDanceMan]

brilliant thanks foe tar is this

[@ameilapacarynuk5119]

Hal and tow, jolly rombolo, we were up long before the day-o, to welcome in the summer, to welcome in the may-o for summer is a coming in and witners gone away-o.

[@slydoll7877]

"Rumbalow"

[@zoeyungmi]

this is awesome awesome awesome

[@pennypyro42]

@youthgoes According to Mara Freeman, in the book _Kindling the Celtic Spirit_, this is a Cornish May song. And i think May Day was considered the beginning of summer. (Of course, the precise beginnings of seasons kind of depend on one's view point, or perhaps the seasonal changes where one lives.) I hope that helps.

[@blindpew69]

Anyone know what happened to John Harrison? Can’t find any trace of him after he left the group. He was the ‘outsider’ as the non-family member.

[@MoiraRussell]

Fantastic!

[@paulofford27]

Great performance

[@rogeralsop3479]

Excellent.

[@rezzab]

RIP Norma

[@timhague882]

We’ll be singing this next Friday at Helston Flora Day, like our fathers and fathers fathers

[@TNJX]

Solstice brought me here:)

[@Lytton333]

Yes, it was in the upstairs room of Ye Olde Bluebell. The room was later somewhat forlorn and contained only a pool table during the 1990s.. I think it's locked up now and not used.

[@cris8249]

I have their CD, Pence and Spicy Ale. I love it. I first heard them on Sound & Spirit, the Sunday morning NPR radio program. Does anyone know if they're still performing?

[@taueret2k2]

@twosixohfive Yeh, know it was Hull, but wondered which pub. They often performed at the Blue Bell which is where the folk club was, or possibly still is.

[@TheMeleemonkey]

sing for the joy of weeping and burning.

[@justforever96]

Why did i have to miss the Folk Revival era?

[@twosixohfive]

@taueret2k2 It was definitely in Hull. I recommend watching The Land of Green Ginger by Harold Pinter if you get a chance, set in Hull in the late 60s/early 70s.

[@nodarkthings]

This was recorded in the Blue Bell in the old town of Kingston-Upon-Hull

[@sebastianvonnebenan5260]

Winter's gone away...

[@ronbroomell]

Very interesting music 🎶; but i would say you should allow more time to read the commentary! We are not all speed-readers ~ The last note and audience reaction are awesome! 😎👍🏼 Carry on & Happy Trails!

[@pemberville]

Puget Sound Revels uses this song for the spring Equinox Sing-a-long

[@raglegummify]

👌🏼

[@lewbook]

@youthgoes For a totally different perspective - but same song - do a search on youtube for Helston May Celebration Hal an Tow . Lew

[@gazwaz69]

Google show me chanters . Absolute class.

[@maxdenton7999]

Cob coaling can be found on mighty river of song,as can thi video.

[@sputniksvythart]

A nice change after hearing lame Christmas songs everywhere i went - on these days, you can't escape them.

[@joelmuniz-fx2md]

stillwatersons

[@HarryJohnson1991]

lollipopmind have you got "country life"?

[@sidDkid87]

"tis the holy water" : )` 2:56

[@MrBendibus]

Rumbelows!!

[@triqualina]

look at the smoke!

[@paullavan3097]

It's better on the radio

[@jonnycoulson]

if anyone has a copy of "cob coaling" by the watersons or anyone else actually.please let me know. we used to sing as kids back home in oldham,knocking on doors carrying a guy,we were supposed to be collecting wood from people for the "bonty" but most would give you 5p or so.a bit like trick or treat.

[@Psmith-ek5hq]

What year was this performance?

[@drummerboy1390]

1965.

[@mh605]

What documentary is this from?

[@sarasuperid]

heel and toe

[@taueret2k2]

Anyone know where this was filmed? Was it the BlueBell pub in Hull?

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

Spellbinding...

[@olafbigandglad]

shirley collins' version is also great.

[@NYorksElcapitan]

Yorkshire

[@suilvenmountain2395]

When smoking in pubs was allowed!

[@JimLovesLemons]

Suilven Mountain Good riddance to that!

[@suilvenmountain2395]

I don't smoke, don't like smoking but like a free country.

[@JimLovesLemons]

Suilven Mountain but now we're free to enjoy a pint without coughing and spluttering and second hand smoke now. Free to get liver cancer instead of lung.

[@suilvenmountain2395]

I am sure that if it were left up to pubs, some would be smoking and some non smoking.

[@JimLovesLemons]

Well I'm waiting for that to happen, 'UKIP have funded a study to prove smoking is actually, contrary to belief, good for you.' Nothing surprises me anymore

[@seerauberjohnny]

@twosixohfive Harold Pinter? Alan Plater surely?

[@arthurphillips6315]

starts off in c and then ends up in c sharp - obvs (not)

[@monty_sultana]

Sounds a bit like Luke Kelly

[@NigelParryMusic]

Great song. Interesting 'smoky' atmosphere. Tweeted; twitter.com/NigelMusicNZ

[@paullavan6098]

Great music, but you'd put of photo of them on the mantelpiece to scare the kids away from the fire, wouldn't you?

[@CookOfTheHouse]

Lal was actually pretty!

[@SIyDoll]

The voices of angels and a dourer looking bunch I've seldom seen! Love them though.

[@mickigoe]

No , Paul , you're blind ........ they're fucking beautiful !!!

[@SIyDoll]

They really were....voices to die for and that makes them lovely.

[@mickigoe]

SIyDoll Good point. The pure joy in their faces is totally disarming. Paul's comment was funny and I don't think he meant to injure :)

[@pipewatcher]

apparently it's cornish.

[@andrewmillham4023]

RIP Norma

[@mh605]

What documentary is this from?

[@fomalhaut9]

player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-travelling-for-a-living-1966-online

[@karencoulterperkins45]

@@fomalhaut9 Can't be watched outside of the U.K.