Subscribe to our Newsletter

Wassail Song (coll Vaughan Williams)

Back to browse page

Alternative title: Gloucestershire Wassail

Performer: Unknown
Place Collected: Pembridge
Date collected: 1909
Roud Number: 209

Ralph Vaughan Williams collected this version of the Gloucestershire wassail in the Inn at Pembridge, Herefordshire in July or August 1909 and it was subsequently published as the Gloucestershire wassail.   Despite the Pembridge version being complete and presumably from a Gloucestershire singer, Vaughan Williams chose when he published the song to use words from versions collected by Sharp from William Bayliss of Buckland and Isaac Bennett of Little Sodbury.  This version of the carol has become popular worldwide and is sung today by many singers and choirs.