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And if you have got no strong beer

We’ll be content with small,

We’ll take the goodwill of your house

And return God thanks for all.

We have been travelling this long night

And part of this long day,

And now we’ve come into your house

To bring you a branch of May.

A branch of May we have brought you

And at your door doth stand,

‘Tis but a sprout but it’s well budded out

By the work of our Lord’s hand.

The life of man is but a span

And cut down in its flower;

We’re here today, tomorrow gone,

The creatures of an hour.

Instruct and teach your children well

The while that you are here.

It will be better for your soul

When your corpse lies on the bier.

Today you be alive and well,

Worth many a thousand pound,

Tomorrow dead and cold as clay

Your corpse laid underground.

With one turf at thy head, O man,

And another at thy feet,

Thy good deeds and thy bad, O man,

Will altogether meet.

Our song is done, we must be gone,

No longer can we stay.

God bless you all, both great and small,

And we wish you a happy May.