trad
The term “halan” means “calends,” or first of the month, and “tow” means “garland”. In the town of Helston, Cornwall, May 8 is called Furry Day (the Feast of St. Michael), and a procession is held each year. Early in the morning, a group of revellers would rise early in the morning, gather green boughs, and dance through the city streets. The revellers themselves were referred to as Hal-an-Tow. In recent times, the celebration consists of a kind of snake dance through the streets-and even in the front door of some residences and out the back. The “Take the scorn?” verse is not from the Helston tradition. It comes from Shakespeare’s As You Like It.
The Watersons: The Watersons “Hal-An-Tow”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs9PMky7Fj0
Since man was first created His works have been debated We have celebrated The coming of the Spring Chorus: 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 the 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 Robin Hood and Little John Have both gone to the fair O And we will to the merry green wood To hunt the buck and hare 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