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.
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