Words and Music by Dennis Livingston We come to your city, we come to your town, with cup and with bowl made of ashwood so brown. Do please let us in, turn the thermostat high, we’d like to be warm, all comfy and dry. We offer some verses to pass our sojourn, till once again, once again, we must return. Wassail, wassail to all good cheer, dear friends and true neighbors throughout the year. When winter’s cloak brings down the night, remember the coming of spring’s bright light. Sing praise to the people who live in this house, and all those connected by modem and mouse. The frisky brown dog and a gerbil or two, iguanas and fish, a stray cockatoo. Please give us a drink and a morsel to eat, till once again, once again we shall all meet. Wassail, wassail to all good cheer, dear friends and true neighbors throughout the year. When winter’s cloak brings down the night, remember the coming of spring’s bright light. We humbly ask you to take a firm stand to help those who suffer in this our fair land, from hunger, from illness, from uncaring greed, when most of us have a lot we don’t need. Your goodwill and kindness may call forth much more, till once again, once again, we’re at your door. Wassail, wassail to all good cheer, dear friends and true neighbors throughout the year. When winter’s cloak brings down the night, remember the coming of spring’s bright light. May all who you cherish be merry and strong, take care of each other with dance and with song. Tomorrow may come, or perhaps it may not. Be sure there are none whom you have forgot. Go now to your beds as we make our farewell, till once again, once again, we ring your bell. Wassail, wassail to all good cheer, dear friends and true neighbors throughout the year. When winter’s cloak brings down the night, remember the coming of spring’s bright light. When winter’s cloak brings down the night, remember the coming of spring’s bright light.   © 1999 Hallmark Music Co.    A Note About BROOKLINE WASSAIL Wassail songs derive from an English tradition that bears directly on the spirit of this piece. A wassail is a spicy, hot drink made from fermented apples that was served to groups of singers who, on New Year’s Eve, roamed from house to house asking for warmth, a drink from the wassail bowl and a bit of food and money. In return, they extended their blessings and promised to be back the next year. The title of a wassail song often took the name of a local village or region, as it does here for the Boston suburb in which I live. Back to previous page Back to SONGS main page