FLOW wassail lyrics, music, dance & sound files

EXETER WASSAIL, 2021

Arranged in 2018/19 by Emma Welton from music by Tim Hill. Original lyrics by James Crowden adapted by Emma Welton, James Banyard, Anne-Marie Culhane & Jo Salter. Exeter Wassail commissioned by Anne-Marie Culhane for Singing For Trees, 2015.

Get in touch if you have any questions or want to practice over the phone!

  1. Wassail wassail the apple tree X4
    Come young and old, and brave and bold To light the dark and chase the cold. The orchard knows a thing or two x2
  2. Wassail wassail the apple tree x4 The Exe flows by from Moor to sea From mill to weir with orchard lea. The orchard knows a thing or two x2
  3. Wassail wassail the apple tree X4 Our trees they come from far and near Feeding the bees for many a year. The orchard knows a thing or two x2
  4. Wassail wassail the apple tree x4 Seasons askew, the patterns change Drought and deluge, sunshine and rain. The orchard knows a thing or two x2
  5. Wassail wassail the apple tree X4 For cherry and quince we all will care
    Mulberry, medlar, almond and pear. The orchard knows a thing or two x2 (or more…)

Sound file 1: melody + quiet harmony; Sound file 2: tune + harmony; Sound file 3 harmony; Sound File 4: chants for dancing.

Exeter Wassail 2021 – Full Music Score

Exeter Wassail lyrics 2021

New dance from Ezuko Hall in Japan to Exeter Wassail
to be danced while singing the Wassail!
1. root care – pass hand in circles, caringly, low over the ground (on knees, or bending low)
2. rain – point outstretched and splayed fingers in a downwards motion towards the ground – angled like rain
3. grow – turn hands over and repeatedly lift them up, encouraging trees to grow
4. wake up – surprise the trees and each with sudden hand claps, looking into each other’s eyes
5. strengthen – do bum-bumps to help develop trunk strength and sturdiness.

Map of FLOW

We now have a full colour, detailed printed map locating all of the 193 trees and their varieties. These maps are free and usually available from: Boatyard Bakery and the Custom House information point both on Exeter quay as well as the Exwick’s Community Builder Rachel.  Please let us know if you can’t get hold of a copy. We hope to make the map available online in 2021.

Exeter map5pd