Yorkshire Dialect Poems (1673-1915) and traditional poems

Hagmana Song(1)

     Fragment of the Hagmana Song!

     (As sung at Richmond, Yorkshire, on the eve of the
     New Year, by the' Corporation Pinder.)

     To-night it is the New-year's night, to-morrow is the day,"
     And we are come for our right, and for our ray,(2)
     As we used to do in old King Henry's day.
        Sing', fellows, sing, Hagman-heigh.

     If you go to the bacon-flick, cut me a good bit;
     Cut, cut and low, beware of your maw;
     Cut, cut and round, beware of your thumb,
     That me and my merry men may have some.
        Sing, fellows, sing, Hagman-heigh.

     If you go to the Black-ark, bring me ten mark;
     Ten mark, ten pound, throw it down upon the ground,
     That me and my merry men may have some.
        Sing, fellows, sing, Hagman-heigh.

     1. Hagmena, or Hogmanay, is a north-country name for New Year's
     eve; the name is also applied to the offering for which children go
     round and beg on that evening.
     2. A Portuguese coin of emall value.