16th Century.

Well, my head has given me a proper conundrum this morning, just as well it’s Sunday and I’ve had the time to google the heck out of this!

Written by English musician Thomas Ravenscroft sometime in the 16th Century, this was sung by carollers at Christmas as they went door-to-door in the hope of receiving  food for their singing. So what the frilly heck is it doing in my head this morning? Well, as a Girl Guide I remember singing this, or a version of it, as a campfire round. Clearly it’s been hiding away in some forgotten corner of my mind until this morning.

The song was recorded by American folk group Peter, Paul and Mary for their 1964 album In Concert.