Song Manuscript as Collected and for Singing
Bill Davis – Badminton Wassail Bill Davies – Badminton wassail
The Badminton wassail song was sung at the end of the Badminton Mummers Play. William (Bill) Davis, born 1879 in Cheltenham, was Father Christmas in the play and described the wassail and Mumming party. They blackened their faces with burnt cork and dressed in comic clothes. Jim Perks carried the bowl at the end of a 4 foot handle [presumably for collecting purposes] with holly, ivy and mistletoe twisted around the handle. For the song, one man sang the verses and the rest joined in the chorus. The song was recorded from Bill on 17 April 1972 by Andrew Kennett and Richard Chidlaw.
We’ll sail, we’ll sail all over the town
Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown
Our bowl it is made of the mapling tree
And a waysailing bowl, I’ll drink to thee
Drink to thee, drink to thee
And a waysailing bowl, I’ll drink to thee
Oh, here’s to the maid with the lily-white smock
Who trips to the door and turns back the lock
Oh turn back the lock and let us all in
With me waysailing bowl, I’ll drink to thee
Drink to thee, drink to thee
With me waysailing bowl, I’ll drink to thee
Come butler, come butler, a bowl of your best
I hope that in heaven your soul it may rest
But if he should fill us a bowl of the small
Down comes butler, bowl and all
Bowl and all, bowl and all
Oh down falls butler, bowl and all
Here’s to the mistress and to her right eye
God send our mistress a nice Christmas pie
A nice Christmas pie as ever you see
With me waysailing bowl, we’ll drink to thee
Drink to thee, drink to thee
(With me) And a waysailing bowl, I’ll drink to thee.
Oh here’s to the master and to his right arm
May God send our master a good crop of corn
A good crop of corn as ever you see
With me waysailing bowl, I’ll drink to thee
Drink to thee, drink to thee
With me waysailing bowl, I’ll drink to thee
(Notes by Gwilym Davies)