X:1
T:Bedfordshire May Carol
B:Broadwood, L, 1908, English Traditional Songs and Carols, London, Boosey
N:Reprinted by EP Publishing Limited, Rowman & Littlefield, Totowa, New Jersey, 1974
S: Sir Ernest Clarke
Z:Lucy Broadwood
F:http://www.folkinfo.org/songs
M:4/4     %Meter
L:1/8     %
K:F
A2 (AG) F2 (FG) |A2 (AG) F2
w:I've been_ ram-bling_ all the_ night,
F F |F2 d2 c2 F2 |G4 z2
w:And the best part of the day;
G2 |A A A B c2 (cB) |A2 (GA) F2
w:And now I am re-turn-ing_ back a--gain,
F G |A2 c c G2 (AG) |F6 z2 |]
w:I have brought you a branch of_ May
W:I've been rambling all the night,
W:And the best part of the day;
W:And now I am returning back again,
W:I have brought you a branch of May.
W:
W:A branch of May, my dear, I say,
W:Before your door I stand,
W:It's nothing but a sprout, but it's well budded out,
W:By the work of our Lord's hand.
W:
W:Go down in your dairy and fetch me a cup,
W:A cup of your sweet cream,*
W:And, if I should live to tarry in the town,
W:I will call on you next year.
W:
W:The hedges and the fields they are so green,
W:As green as any leaf,
W:Our Heavenly Father waters them
W:With His Heavenly dew so sweet.
W:
W:When I am dead and in my grave,
W:And covered with cold clay,
W:The nightingale will sit and sing,
W:And pass the time away.
W:
W:Take a Bible in your hand,
W:And read a chapter through,
W:And, when the day of Judgment comes,
W:The Lord will think on you.
W:
W:I have a bag on my right arm,
W:Draws up with a silken string,
W:Nothing does it want but a little silver
W:To line it well within.
W:
W:And now my song is almost done,
W:I can no longer stay,
W:God bless you all both great and small,
W:I wish you a joyful May.
W:
W: 
W:
W:(*  cheer?)
W:
W: