I have impulse booked my ticket to see you next year!! I have recently re-discovered you after having Cure What Ails Ya on loop whilst playing Sea Of Thieves!! I cannot wait to stamp my feet and raise a glass to one of my favourite bands of all time!!
So fun fact, the best vs the small refers to the alcohol level of the ale or beer. Small beer was meant to be drunk by anyone at any time, and only had enough alcohol to keep it drinkable in storage. The best was the strongest drink you had to hand.
Thus, small ale was oft relegated to servants. Best was the first steeping of grains for wort; small ale a second steeping. I've done it just for the experience: considerable difference.
@@thelongestjohns In Medieval/Early Modern England, water was often not safe to drink, so people drank ale all day while they worked - about 8 pints. Most of it would be small, with a regular ale (or two) in the evening. For getting drunk.
@@Cry_Havoc That's actually a myth! Water was quite commonly drunk. Burchard of Worms cautioned everyone to drink water regularly and the Regimen Sanitatis Salerni (a very very common medical text) had a full explanation of boiling water to purify it. Bede the venerable as well. And if they didn't drink water, why build The Conduit? Ale wasn't replacing water. Ale replaced *bread* as a cheap source of carbs and nourishment
@@weetdirt It may have been different in rural and urban areas, and both may have existed side-by-side. Bread and ale were the major components of food in rural areas of pre-Reformation England, especially those with livestock. (It's fun to talk to another historian! What's your area? I concentrate mostly on the interaction of rural and urban politics in Tudor England, and if you need to combat insomnia, I can tell you more!)
I close my eyes and I see Mole, Water Rat and Toad singing in front of the fireplace in the grand dining room at Toad Hall while Badger watches over the ale cauldron. 😊
The lyrics for the folks who want them : *Wassail ! wassail ! all over the town !* *Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown !* *Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree,* *With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee !* So here is to Cherry and to his right cheek, Pray God send our master a good piece of beef ! And a good piece of beef that may we all see, With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee. *Wassail ! wassail ! all over the town !* *Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown !* *Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree,* *With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee !* And here is to Dobbin, and to his right eye, Pray God send our master a good Christmas pie (scrumptious) ! A good Christmas pie that we all may see, With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee. *Wassail ! wassail ! all over the town !* *Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown !* *Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree,* *With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee !* Come butler, come fill us a bowl of the best, Then we hope that your soul in heaven may rest. But if you do draw us a bowl of the small, Then down shall go butler, bowl and all ! *Wassail ! wassail ! all over the town !* *Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown !* *Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree,* *With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee !* Then here's to the maid in the lily white smock, Who tripped to the door and slipped back the lock. Who tripped to the door and pulled back the pin, For to let these jolly wassailers in ! *Wassail ! wassail ! all over the town !* *Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown !* *Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree,* *With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee !* *Wassail ! wassail ! all over the town !* *Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown !* *Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree,* *With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee !*
This Wassail song makes me think of what might be sung in Hobbiton at Christmas/Yule. I've had a rough year dealing w/a narcissistic nemesis who I found out kicked the proverbial bucket just today (what a Christmas gift from the Universe!) So this very "Hobbit-ish" melody has me wishing I at least some hot cider (non-alcoholic) to celebrate with. I say non-alcoholic because I prefer it. 😅
Wassail, wassail, all over the town Our toast it is white, and our ale it is brown Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree With a wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee So here is to Cherry, and to his right cheek, Pray god send our master a good piece of beef And a good piece of beef that we all may see With a wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee Wassail, wassail, all over the town Our toast it is white, and our ale it is brown Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree With a wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee And here is to Dobbin, and to his right eye Pray god, send our master a good Christmas pie A good Christmas pie that we all may see With a wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee Wassail, wassail, all over the town Our toast it is white, and our ale it is brown Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree With a wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee Come butler, come fill us a bowl of the best Then we hope that your soul in heaven may rest But if you do draw us a bowl of the small Then down shall go butler, bowl and all Wassail, wassail, all over the town Our toast it is white, and our ale it is brown Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree With a wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee Then here's to the maid in the lily white smock Who tripped to the door and slipped back the lock Who tripped to the door and pulled back the pin For to let these jolly wassailers in Wassail, wassail, all over the town Our toast it is white, and our ale it is brown Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree With a wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee Wassail, wassail, all over the town! Our toast it is white, and our ale it is brown! Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree! With a wassailing bowwl we'll dri-ink too theeeeeeeeee
@@thelongestjohnsI thought Robbie’s apple eating during a song was not on par with Dave’s, standing outside a library singing a song and taking multiple bites of an apple and being able to still sing.
Thanks for this! Myself and other allotment holders are going down to wassail our apple and fruit trees this evening so I’m looking for songs for us. We’ve got cider, raspberry gin and apple cake. Wish us good luck and Wassail!
Oh, that was even more perfect than I could have imagined, and amongst the apple trees as I’d so hoped for. The most wonderfully adequate Christmas treat, thank you!
Just this past week, I watched Max Miller's Wassail episode over on Tasting History. Seems like a recipe I would like to have a go at one of these days. As to this song, it is very catchy, and I find myself playing it on loop as I usually do with songs that catch my ear. As always, gents, you do fine work. Cheers!
I didn't know that wassail was a known drink 😂. I'm from the U.S and a woman who was very dear to me taught me to make wassail. She passed away last year and this song made me so happy to think about her
I sang a different version of this ("Wassail Song", I believe) from Folk Songs of the Four Seasons by Ralph Vaughan Williams a couple years back in choir live on the radio. whenever I hear the recording, i have to cry because of the nostalgia (I've left that choir by now, toxic environment) but i still love all the songs. oh i feel so thankful four this version, it makes me so happy
Another banger fellas as per usual. I only wish that these studio sessions would be released as singles on iTunes so I can sing along in my car. Either way great rendition and happy holidays
This is great! All of these have been great! (humble petition to pull all of these youtube releases onto an album so my dragon pile of TLJ stuff can grow)
First, and really only, time I’ve heard this song is from the stage version of A Christmas Carol. My family had a tradition for years to go see it every holiday season. Amazing how all these years later I remember this song, albeit just the chorus. Great rendition as always!
Beautiful! This is gonna be one of those that I listen to when I need cheering up. Also interesting to learn about wassailing. I had no idea it existed before you sang this on the last stream. It's a fantastic word as well, I love the sound of it. Thank you for the lovely song
@@thelongestjohns I think a lot of people can agree that many of your songs are great for cheering up 🥰 And the playfulness of the video adds even more to the happiness levels!
Yup. Wassailing used to be a practice among peasant men who'd invade the houses of their rich landlords and sing a song like this, offering their goodwill in exchange for food and drink and threats if they didn't get it. You can see all elements of the practice in this song.
Very adequate ! Lovely song ! These last few weeks have been so rough for me I'm glad I can always count on you lads to make me smile. Thank you so very much for bringing me some much needed joy, laughs and festive cheer. 😊 Love the scenery and jumpers in this one.🤩
@thelongestjohns just found you and love this! Aside from the song and vocals, which are spot on, I very much appreciate the personality you bring to song such as the “Scrumptious!” and the “Boo” ( my favorite) well done guys!
I am getting really like these three lads, the best so far I’ve seen is “Wayfaring Stranger” and “Big Iron”. I might be tempted to get an album with them on.
@@johncayley7838 or that one modern Irish Trad musician. I don't remember his name but he does shorts explaining stuff like the context behind Come Out Ye Black and Tans
This sounds amazing, I'm just going to listen again. Intrigued by the reference to 'Dobbin', which suggests there should be an 'oss with the wassailers; I'll have to look that up...
New Album, Voyage, available for preorder now!! Come hear us live on the Voyage tour next year too!!
thelongestjohns.com
I will sail a bit alongside you!
I have impulse booked my ticket to see you next year!! I have recently re-discovered you after having Cure What Ails Ya on loop whilst playing Sea Of Thieves!! I cannot wait to stamp my feet and raise a glass to one of my favourite bands of all time!!
I have my tickets already.
Will it be on iTunes?
Can you please do Whisky in the jar
"Honey, three strange men are singing in our orchard again"
Don’t worry about it… 😄
And it will be the best harvest you've ever had come summer. 😊
12/10 big handsome energy!
And just like that, all of my Christmas Cheer was increased by 3000%!
Agreed! (We keep Christmas until Twelfth Night, so. . .)
The best part was when they said "it's wassailin' time" and wassailed all over the town
We don’t do that he-
Oh wow, they pretty much said that
It's truly one of the songs they've sung this year
I hate this. (affectionate)
I wanna hear that, when/where?
@@arcanelore3791Thanks, I hate it. finally applies to true appreciation
So fun fact, the best vs the small refers to the alcohol level of the ale or beer. Small beer was meant to be drunk by anyone at any time, and only had enough alcohol to keep it drinkable in storage. The best was the strongest drink you had to hand.
Thus, small ale was oft relegated to servants. Best was the first steeping of grains for wort; small ale a second steeping. I've done it just for the experience: considerable difference.
Great knowledge! More beer facts please :)
@@thelongestjohns In Medieval/Early Modern England, water was often not safe to drink, so people drank ale all day while they worked - about 8 pints. Most of it would be small, with a regular ale (or two) in the evening. For getting drunk.
@@Cry_Havoc That's actually a myth! Water was quite commonly drunk. Burchard of Worms cautioned everyone to drink water regularly and the Regimen Sanitatis Salerni (a very very common medical text) had a full explanation of boiling water to purify it. Bede the venerable as well. And if they didn't drink water, why build The Conduit?
Ale wasn't replacing water. Ale replaced *bread* as a cheap source of carbs and nourishment
@@weetdirt It may have been different in rural and urban areas, and both may have existed side-by-side. Bread and ale were the major components of food in rural areas of pre-Reformation England, especially those with livestock. (It's fun to talk to another historian! What's your area? I concentrate mostly on the interaction of rural and urban politics in Tudor England, and if you need to combat insomnia, I can tell you more!)
I close my eyes and I see Mole, Water Rat and Toad singing in front of the fireplace in the grand dining room at Toad Hall while Badger watches over the ale cauldron. 😊
The lyrics for the folks who want them :
*Wassail ! wassail ! all over the town !*
*Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown !*
*Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree,*
*With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee !*
So here is to Cherry and to his right cheek,
Pray God send our master a good piece of beef !
And a good piece of beef that may we all see,
With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee.
*Wassail ! wassail ! all over the town !*
*Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown !*
*Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree,*
*With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee !*
And here is to Dobbin, and to his right eye,
Pray God send our master a good Christmas pie (scrumptious) !
A good Christmas pie that we all may see,
With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.
*Wassail ! wassail ! all over the town !*
*Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown !*
*Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree,*
*With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee !*
Come butler, come fill us a bowl of the best,
Then we hope that your soul in heaven may rest.
But if you do draw us a bowl of the small,
Then down shall go butler, bowl and all !
*Wassail ! wassail ! all over the town !*
*Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown !*
*Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree,*
*With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee !*
Then here's to the maid in the lily white smock,
Who tripped to the door and slipped back the lock.
Who tripped to the door and pulled back the pin,
For to let these jolly wassailers in !
*Wassail ! wassail ! all over the town !*
*Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown !*
*Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree,*
*With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee !*
*Wassail ! wassail ! all over the town !*
*Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown !*
*Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree,*
*With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee !*
This Wassail song makes me think of what might be sung in Hobbiton at Christmas/Yule. I've had a rough year dealing w/a narcissistic nemesis who I found out kicked the proverbial bucket just today (what a Christmas gift from the Universe!) So this very "Hobbit-ish" melody has me wishing I at least some hot cider (non-alcoholic) to celebrate with. I say non-alcoholic because I prefer it. 😅
So how many times did Robbie hit Andy in the face with his mug?
And there I was, feeling grinchy all day. And you fixed it in two minutes.
🎅
The harmonies are particularly splendid on this one.
I desperately want you guys to do a whole Christmas CD.
Wassail, wassail, all over the town
Our toast it is white, and our ale it is brown
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree
With a wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee
So here is to Cherry, and to his right cheek,
Pray god send our master a good piece of beef
And a good piece of beef that we all may see
With a wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee
Wassail, wassail, all over the town
Our toast it is white, and our ale it is brown
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree
With a wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee
And here is to Dobbin, and to his right eye
Pray god, send our master a good Christmas pie
A good Christmas pie that we all may see
With a wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee
Wassail, wassail, all over the town
Our toast it is white, and our ale it is brown
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree
With a wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee
Come butler, come fill us a bowl of the best
Then we hope that your soul in heaven may rest
But if you do draw us a bowl of the small
Then down shall go butler, bowl and all
Wassail, wassail, all over the town
Our toast it is white, and our ale it is brown
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree
With a wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee
Then here's to the maid in the lily white smock
Who tripped to the door and slipped back the lock
Who tripped to the door and pulled back the pin
For to let these jolly wassailers in
Wassail, wassail, all over the town
Our toast it is white, and our ale it is brown
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree
With a wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee
Wassail, wassail, all over the town!
Our toast it is white, and our ale it is brown!
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree!
With a wassailing bowwl we'll dri-ink too theeeeeeeeee
Them Eating Apples throughout and at the end of the music video is the most "Longest Johns" thing ever 😭
Haha, I’m not sure how we’ve earned that reputation, but I’ll take it
@@thelongestjohnsI thought Robbie’s apple eating during a song was not on par with Dave’s, standing outside a library singing a song and taking multiple bites of an apple and being able to still sing.
But are they apples from up the mighty Saguenay??
@@lynne2343Aww, I miss Dave, hope he’s doing well these days
@@thelongestjohns Probably from scrumping all over the country!
Major props for singing it in the orchard with hot mulled cider.
The timing on this - the song has been stuck in my head all day, and then they do a solo version!
Hooray! Glad we could provide
Thanks for this! Myself and other allotment holders are going down to wassail our apple and fruit trees this evening so I’m looking for songs for us. We’ve got cider, raspberry gin and apple cake. Wish us good luck and Wassail!
"Scrumptious!" 🤣🤣🤣🤣 0:52
Here's to you Longest Johns. And here's to you dear reader and I'm assuming fellow fan. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
Oh, that was even more perfect than I could have imagined, and amongst the apple trees as I’d so hoped for. The most wonderfully adequate Christmas treat, thank you!
Hooray!! Happy to provide
Adequate!
Lovely! I sung this song with my caroling group back in college, so I was super happy to see it on stream and now in its own video. Most Adequate!
Seconded!
this is my favorite christmas song i don't know why
I loved your version of this on the last live stream, so glad to have a video for it! Even if Robbie's whale is not included....
Ooh, exciting! I can't wait to hear about the brown whale again :D
Gotta love JD's bass. Most adequate work by all involved, as always.
Lovely. And a jolly wassail to you too
Just this past week, I watched Max Miller's Wassail episode over on Tasting History. Seems like a recipe I would like to have a go at one of these days.
As to this song, it is very catchy, and I find myself playing it on loop as I usually do with songs that catch my ear. As always, gents, you do fine work. Cheers!
I used to know a guy called John Cherry, and darned if he didn't get his cheek patted by everyone on that verse! STOMP, ye merry gentlemen!
This was the song my high school madrigal choir used when we wassailed! Wonderful rendition and so much fun to see y'all performing it!
I enjoyed this lads!
I am from the NE (Sunderland via Belfast) and came across this researching 'List of Christmas Carols'
I didn't know that wassail was a known drink 😂. I'm from the U.S and a woman who was very dear to me taught me to make wassail. She passed away last year and this song made me so happy to think about her
Y’all’s voices compliment so fucking well JD’s Bass adds so much depth to all your songs 🥲
This is my family's unofficial anthem. So this is so awesome
I sang a different version of this ("Wassail Song", I believe) from Folk Songs of the Four Seasons by Ralph Vaughan Williams a couple years back in choir live on the radio. whenever I hear the recording, i have to cry because of the nostalgia (I've left that choir by now, toxic environment) but i still love all the songs. oh i feel so thankful four this version, it makes me so happy
Another banger fellas as per usual. I only wish that these studio sessions would be released as singles on iTunes so I can sing along in my car. Either way great rendition and happy holidays
Might make that a stretch goal for our new album campaign!
@@thelongestjohns sounds awesome, I hope it would include some songs that aren’t on the playlist like cold winds but either way I’m pumped!
Fiddlers green would be an amazing next choice in the studio!
tis the season
This is great! All of these have been great! (humble petition to pull all of these youtube releases onto an album so my dragon pile of TLJ stuff can grow)
Might make it a stretch goal for the new album preorder!
@@thelongestjohns yessss!
@@thelongestjohnsbest news I've heard all day :D
Did this one with my college choir, what a great version! I miss wassailing with those peeps
I admit I had to Google what Wassail means... but the song is too beautiful!!!😍😍😍
Thanks for the memory, I sung this song 28 years ago in Highschool!
Well done! I love your harmonies in this song
wonderful! bringing the best of british xmas to the foothills of the Rockies!
First, and really only, time I’ve heard this song is from the stage version of A Christmas Carol. My family had a tradition for years to go see it every holiday season. Amazing how all these years later I remember this song, albeit just the chorus. Great rendition as always!
A fantastic addition to all of your Christmas songs, lovely rendition!
I literally did this in my high school madrigal dinner, and this made my day that y'all did it.
love how you guys are still having a great time in these videos, and keeping it fun. good stuff my guys, quite adequate ^^
Beautiful! This is gonna be one of those that I listen to when I need cheering up. Also interesting to learn about wassailing. I had no idea it existed before you sang this on the last stream. It's a fantastic word as well, I love the sound of it.
Thank you for the lovely song
Yay, glad it can be here to cheer you up 😊
@@thelongestjohns I think a lot of people can agree that many of your songs are great for cheering up 🥰 And the playfulness of the video adds even more to the happiness levels!
Yup. Wassailing used to be a practice among peasant men who'd invade the houses of their rich landlords and sing a song like this, offering their goodwill in exchange for food and drink and threats if they didn't get it. You can see all elements of the practice in this song.
This gave major goosebumps 🪿. Love you lads
Just rewatched it. This song makes me so happy!
Another classic, Merry Christmas to you all 🙂
Nothing like these lads for getting us in the Christmas Spirit!
Gorgeous!
Lovely. Thank you.
You guys... and your sound effects and your pantomiming... Hilarious!!! You never fail to crack me up and put a big, happy smile on my face. 😁
Very adequate ! Lovely song ! These last few weeks have been so rough for me I'm glad I can always count on you lads to make me smile. Thank you so very much for bringing me some much needed joy, laughs and festive cheer. 😊
Love the scenery and jumpers in this one.🤩
I literally just played the Vaughn Williams arrangement of this for our Christmas concert, I’m so happy it was my favorite song
Just noticed the (two gallon?) bottles of brew working in front. Mostly adequate!
Wow I love your guys ❤❤ From Norristown PA here 👍🏾🙏🏾👌🏾👏🏾🤟🏾
An old favorite in a new favorite rendition to savor! Thanks, this is delightful!
@thelongestjohns just found you and love this! Aside from the song and vocals, which are spot on, I very much appreciate the personality you bring to song such as the “Scrumptious!” and the “Boo” ( my favorite) well done guys!
lovely stuff chaps. west country boys doin' it right 🍻
Cool to hear a different band doing this as I love the blur version.
One of my favourite carols. Thank you and Happy Christmas to all in the Longest Johns team - you always brighten my day when a new video's out!
Great song, and nice Christmas jumpers!
Many thanks 😊
@@thelongestjohns oh damn, I didn't expect a reply from you lot lol, all the best 👍
I finally feel the Christmas spirit once again. Thank you.
My high school had a medieval themed Christmas dinner, we sang a variation of this song, brought back some good memories, great job guys!
You never fail to make me smile with your songs - thank you for this! ❤
What great singing voices! Happy Twelfth Night :)
Festivly adequate! Looks like you fellows were having a good time. Star of the County Down next?...
It feels so wrong to not have a mug of wassail in my hand right now. Beautiful song, as always.
Just got tickets for your concert in Northern Ireland looking forward to seeing you guys live!
Glorious! Now that's the spirit (in more ways than one).
The mulled cider was delicious!
@@thelongestjohns Between the two, I'd much rather have mulled cider than eggnog.
another banger!
Delightfully adequate, as always 😄and now I want some apples 🍎
What a great Christmas present!
Would love to hear you guys cover the final voyage of the wailers essex
They got jolly with it
Love it! Added it to my Christmas playlist (which has all your other Christmas songs too). BTW I’m very excited for the new album & tour!!❤😀
I am getting really like these three lads, the best so far I’ve seen is “Wayfaring Stranger” and “Big Iron”. I might be tempted to get an album with them on.
Great version of a great song - spot on lads
Brilliant.
I have no idea what this song is but it's longest Johns so it's immediately good
Hooray! Glad we’ve earned that reputation
I feel the same way! Andipants should do pop-up video blurbs for cultural dummies like he does on stream.
@@johncayley7838 or that one modern Irish Trad musician. I don't remember his name but he does shorts explaining stuff like the context behind Come Out Ye Black and Tans
I literally grew up in gloucestershire and singing this wasailling as a kid, so its weird but nice to hear you guys cover it
This sounds amazing, I'm just going to listen again.
Intrigued by the reference to 'Dobbin', which suggests there should be an 'oss with the wassailers; I'll have to look that up...
This brought back so many childhoood memories, thanks for this lovely version!
Love it x
Happy Wassail lads!
Fabulous . . . that is all !!
💚💚💚💚💚
He deserves to see this, ill link it on the subreddit
Id love to hear you guys do sugar wassail with the teacups!
Most adequate! Well done, gentlemen. I love this song.
A toast just before my birthday: here's to you, lads.
Adequate!👏👏👏❤️❤️❤️
Love this song
That was awesome, I love that song and how you guys sang it!
1st gen Canadian with all family in this county love to see it
Boy can they wassail!!!🤪🤪🤪
Love it! My favorite Christmas carol with a bit of a twist! :-)