Holly standeth in the hall fair to behold,
Ivy stands without the door; she is full sore a cold.
Nay, Ivy, nay, it shall not be, I wis,
Let Holly hold the mastery as the old custom is.
Holly and his merry men, they dancen and they sing;
Ivy and her maidens, they weepen and they wring.
Nay, Ivy, nay, it shall not be, I wis,
Let Holly hold the mastery as the old custom is.
Holly hath berries, as red as any rose,
The foresters, the hunters, keep them from the does.
Nay, Ivy, nay, it shall not be, I wis,
Let Holly hold the mastery as the old custom is.
Ivy hath berries as black as any sloe,
There come the owl and eat them as she go.
Nay, Ivy, nay, it shall not be, I wis,
Let Holly hold the mastery as the old custom is.
Holly hath birds a full fair flock,
The nightingale, the poppinjay, the gentle laverock.
Nay, Ivy, nay, it shall not be, I wis,
Let Holly hold the mastery as the old custom is.
Good Ivy, good Ivy, what birds hast thou,
None but the owlet that cries How! How!
Nay, Ivy, nay, it shall not be, I wis,
Let Holly hold the mastery as the old custom is.
Holly’s torn from off his throne, cast into the street,
Ivy reaches out her hand, she helps him to his feet.
Nay, Holly nay, it shall not be, I wis,
Custom’s poor excuse for mastery, let the old ways desist.
credits
from Wassailing Songs,
released December 9, 2022
The Gnarled One - Vocals, Guitar, Noise, Field Recordings
Dan Dolby - Synth
supported by 4 fans who also own “Of Holly and Ivy (II)”
«Soudain l'homme se réveille
au milieu de la nuit
il est saisi par le malaise
et écoute malgré lui
le silencieux vacarme de l'angoisse
le bruit qui ne fait pas de bruit
le silence qui hurle à la mort
dans le grand coquillage de la nuit (...)»
(Jacques Prévert, Soudain le bruit) Ol64
The Indonesian act Kekal leaves no genre unturned, colliding black metal with industrial music with melodic post-rock on this stunning LP. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 25, 2023
A blackened doom concept record about the very real problem of amphibian extinction, “Croak” is a punishing, essential listen. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 23, 2022
supported by 4 fans who also own “Of Holly and Ivy (II)”
Heavenly and blissful drone music to fully surrender into the divine presence of the Godhead, The Lord along with Petra Haden's angelical voice brings us the mystical experience in this musical mantra where we're driven in celestial ecstasy and joyful wanderlust amidst the holiness of each song that compels to worship creation with the sound of the sacred spheres. Pure musical beauty to leave you gleeming in magnificent awe. josedenoche