Candlemas Eve
Kate Rusby Lyrics


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Down with the rosemary and bay,
Down with the mistletoe,
Instead of holly, now up-raise
The greener box, to show
The greener box to show.

[Chorus:]
Thus times do shift, thus times do shift,
Each thing it's time doth hold,
New things succeed, new things succeed,
As former things grow old.

The holly hitherto did sway,
Let box now domineer,
Until the dancing Easter day,
On Easter's eve appear,
On Easter's eve appear.

[Chorus]

The youthful box which now hath grace,
Your houses to renew,
Grown old, surrender must it's place,
Unto the freshened yew,
Unto the freshened yew.

[Chorus]

When yew is out, then birch comes in
And many the flowers beside,
Both of a fresh and fragrant kin,
To honour Whitsuntide,
To honour Whitsuntide.





[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

In the song Candlemas Eve by Kate Rusby, the first verse talks about the changing of times and traditions. The rosemary and bay, mistletoe, and holly have had their time, and now it is the greener box that should be raised to show the changing of times. The chorus talks about how everything has its time and how new things succeed old things.


The second verse talks about the dominance of holly coming to an end, and the box tree taking over until the dancing Easter day. It is interesting to note how Easter appears multiple times in this song, from its eve to Easter day. The third verse talks about how the youthful box has grace and is used to renew houses, but it must surrender its place to the freshened yew as time goes on. Finally, the last verse talks about the birch tree and many other flowers being used to honor Whitsuntide, another holiday celebrated in the Christian tradition.


Line by Line Meaning

Down with the rosemary and bay,
Let go of the previous holiday season's adornments of rosemary and bay.


Down with the mistletoe,
Let go of the previous holiday season's intimacy and romance.


Instead of holly, now up-raise The greener box, to show The greener box to show.
Use the box plant to show new growth and vitality in the current holiday season.


[Chorus:] Thus times do shift, thus times do shift, Each thing it's time doth hold, New things succeed, new things succeed, As former things grow old.
The passing of time dictates that new traditions replace old ones in each holiday season.


The holly hitherto did sway, Let box now domineer, Until the dancing Easter day, On Easter's eve appear, On Easter's eve appear.
Box will be the dominant decoration until the eve before Easter.


[Chorus]
As before, time determines the passing of traditions in each holiday season.


The youthful box which now hath grace, Your houses to renew, Grown old, surrender must it's place, Unto the freshened yew, Unto the freshened yew.
Box is replaced by yew, which symbolizes the end of the holiday season and the start of a new cycle.


[Chorus]
As before, time determines the passing of traditions in each holiday season.


When yew is out, then birch comes in And many the flowers beside, Both of a fresh and fragrant kin, To honour Whitsuntide, To honour Whitsuntide.
After yew, birch will decorate houses alongside various fresh and fragrant flowers to celebrate Whitsuntide.


[Chorus]
As before, time determines the passing of traditions in each holiday season.




Contributed by Luke A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Charles Twombly

Thank you, Kate. You have a voice that's beyond lovely, but where does the feeling, the incredible feeling, come from? You have a heart as well as a voice.

Stu

Candlemas is on the day after Imbolc, and is the festival celebrating the presentation of Christ in the Temple. In mediaeval celebration it was seen as the last day of the Christmas celebrations (hence the lyrics of this song!!). Yep - many traditions were taken on from Imbolc and Brigd's day. How fantastic so many share this time of candle lighting and community :) It has everything to do with Christians celebrating Christmas and shares much to do with Pagans celebrating Imbolc. Candlemas is, of course, the Christian title for February 2nd (NOT 1st!! which is Brigid's day). Pity you didn't bother to find out twzdfirestrtr42.......

Stu

+Christopher Gallagher Hence Robert Herrick's "Down with the rosemary and bay" :)

Christopher Gallagher

+stufour It is also the ancient date for taking down the Christmas greenery, now more usually done on Twelfth Night.

P. Ruddock

I've Never Heard Kate Sing A Song I Didn't Love. She Has So Much Talent And A Voice To Die For. ---'---,----{@ By The Dozon For Such A Beauty Rare!

Margaret Lucas

belle chanson :)

11s River

Ahh October has begun! Time for Christmassy Kate rusby!!! 😁😁😁😁

Paul Schlitz

Rusby knows how to write 'em and how to sing 'em. I'm not easy to please but she always does

paul mayle

The song was written by Robert Herrick in the 1600's :)

Theo Sheridan

Yeah, that's actually a common myth. He stole the lyrics from the 16th Century Thomas Carew.

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