Yorkshire Dialect Poems (1673-1915) and traditional poems

Sheffield Mumming Song(1)

     Come all ye jolly mummers
        That mum in Christmas time.
     Come join with us in chorus
        Come join with us in rhyme.
           Chorus-
           And a-mumming we will go, we'll go,
              And a-mumming we will go ;
           With a white cockade in all our hats,
              We'll go to t' gallant show.

     It's of St. George's valour
        So loudly let us sing;
     An honour to his country
        And a credit to his King.
        Chorus-
           And a-mumming we will go, we'll go,
              And a-mumming we will go ;
           We'll face all sorts of weather
              Both rain, cold, wet, and snow.

     It's of the King of Egypt,
        That came to seek his son;
     It's of the King of Egypt,
        That made his sword so wan.
        Chorus-
           And a-mumming, etc.

     It's of the black Morocco dog
        That fought the fiery battle;
     It's of the black Morocco dog
        That made his sword to rattle.
        Chorus-
           And a-mumming, etc.

     1 From S. O. Addy, Sheffield Glossary (English Dialect Society
     Publications, vol. xxii. p. 153). The song is sung at Christmas time
     in the villages about Sheffield at the conclusion of the folkplay,
     "The Peace Egg." See S. O. Addy, Sheffield Glossary (English
     Dialect Society), p. 153.