Browse Carols: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # Wassail Chorus At The Mermaid Tavern [Chorus]. CHRISTMAS knows a merry, merry place, Where he goes with fondest face, Brightest eye, brightest hair: Tell the Mermaid where is that one place, Where? Raleigh. 'Tis by Devon's glorious halls, Whence, dear Ben, I come again: Bright of golden roofs and walls- El Dorado's rare domain- Seem those halls when sunlight launches Shafts of gold thro' leafless branches, Where the winter's feathery mantle blanches Field and farm and lane. [Chorus] Drayton. 'Tis where Avon's wood-sprites weave Through the boughs a lace of rime, While the bells of Christmas Eve Fling for Will the Stratford-chime O'er the river-flags emboss'd Rich with flowery runes of frost- O'er the meads where snowy tufts are toss'd- Strains of olden time. [Chorus] Shakespeare's Friend. 'Tis, methinks, on any ground Where our Shakespeare's feet are set. There smiles Christmas, holly-crown'd With his blithest coronet: Friendship's face he loveth well: 'Tis a countenance whose spell Sheds a balm o'er every mead and dell Where we used to fret. [Chorus] Heywood. More than all the pictures, Ben, Winter weaves by wood or stream, Christmas loves our London, when Rise thy clouds of wassail-steam- Clouds like these, that, curling, take Forms of faces gone, and wake Many a lay from lips we loved, and make London like a dream. [Chorus] Ben Jonson. Love's old songs shall never die, Yet the new shall suffer proof: Love's old drink of Yule brew I Wassail for new love's behoof. Drink the drink I brew, and sing Till the berried branches swing, Till our song make all the Mermaid ring- Yea, from rush to roof. Finale. Christmas loves this merry, merry place; Christmas saith with fondest face, Brightest eye, brightest hair: 'Ben, the drink tastes rare of sack and mace: Rare!' Browse Carols: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #