BLOW BLOW THOU WINTER WIND

lyrics from "As You Like It" 1599 play
Arthur Young (m) William Shakespeare (l)

as recorded by Al Bowlly & The Henderson Twins 
with Ken "Snake Hips" Johnson 
& his West Indian Orchestra  
April 24th 1940 
London


Blow blow thou Winter wind,  (note - "wind" pronounced "wined")
Thou art not so unkind
As man's ingratitude.
Thy tooth is not so keen
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude.

Hi-ho, sing hi-ho,
Unto the green holly,
Most friendship is feigning,
Most loving mere folly.
Go hi-ho, the holly,
This life is most jolly,
So blows our Winter wind.

Freeze freeze thou bitter sky,
That does not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot.
Thou thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp
As friend remembered not.

Hi-ho, sing hi-ho, ho-ha-ho-ha-hi,
Unto the green holly,
Most friendship is feigning,
Most loving mere folly.
Go hi-ho, the holly, ho-ha-ho-ha-ho-ha holly,
Be he-he-he-he jolly,
So blows our Winter wind.



(Transcribed by Peter Akers - November 2012)