Of Holly and Ivy (II)

from Wassailing Songs by Gnarl

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lyrics

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

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about

Gnarl Edinburgh, UK

Doom-Noise inspired by the landscapes and folklore of the British Isles.

Brooding guitars weave between layered field recordings and cascades of searing noise.

While some of the sources of my inspiration may have been co-opted by the far right, Gnarl will always remain fiercely anti-fascist.

FFO: Sunn O))), Bismuth, Harvestman, Nadja ... more

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