"All Around My Hat (song)"
The song "All Around my Hat" (Round 567, Laws P31) is of nineteenth century English origin.[citation needed] In an early version, dating from the 1820s, a Cockney costermonger vowed to be true to his fiancee, who had been sentenced to seven years transportation to Australia for theft and to mourn his loss by wearing green willow sprigs in his hatband for "a twelve-month and a day," in a traditional symbol of mourning.
In Ireland, Peadar Kearney adapted the song to make it relate to an Republican lass whose lover has died in the Easter Rising, and who swears to wear the Irish tricolour in her hat in remembrance.
All Around My Hat
Steeleye Span & Maddy Prior Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I will wear the green willow
And all around my hat
For a twelwe month and a day
And if anyone should ask me
The reason why I'm wearing it
It's all for my true love
Who's far far away
Fare the well cold winter
And fare the well cold frost
But nothing have I gain
But my own true love I've lost
I'll sing and I'll be merry
When occasion I do see
She's a false deluded young girl
Let here go farewell she
And all around my hat
I will wear the green willow
And all around my hat
For a twelwe month and a day
And if anyone should ask me
The reason why I'm wearing it
It's all for my true love
Who's far far away
The other night she brought me
A fine diamond ring but,
She tought to have deprive me
Of a far better thing
But I being careful
As lovers ought to be
She's a false deluded young girl
Let her go farewell she
And all around my hat
I will wear the green willow
And all around my hat
For a twelwe month and a day
And if anyone should ask me
The reason why I'm wearing it
It's all for my true love
Who's far far away
All around my hat
I will wear the green willow
And all around my hat
For a twelwe month and a day
And if anyone should ask me
The reason why I'm wearing it
It's all for my true love
Who's far far away
The song "All Around My Hat" by Steeleye Span & Maddy Prior is a traditional folk song that tells the story of a man who is wearing a green willow around his hat for a year to honor his true love who is far away from him. He sings of his love for her and his sadness at losing her, saying that he has gained nothing from the cold winter and frost. He is careful with his love and refuses a diamond ring from her as he knows that she is a "false deluded young girl." The song is a poignant tale of lost love and heartbreak, but also a tribute to the enduring power of love and the lengths we will go to honor it.
The green willow that the man is wearing around his hat is a symbol of love and is often associated with mourning and sorrow. In traditional folklore, the willow tree represents the feminine and is often linked with goddesses of love and fertility. The man's decision to wear the willow suggests that he is mourning the loss of his beloved, but also that his love for her is still strong and present. The song is a powerful reminder of the ways in which love can endure even in the face of distance, betrayal, and heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
All around my hat
I will wear the green willow as a band around my hat
I will wear the green willow
I will adorn my hat with the foliage of the green willow tree
And all around my hat
I will continue to wear this willow band around the entirety of my hat
For a twelwe month and a day
I will wear this willow band for a full year and a day
And if anyone should ask me
If anyone asks me about my unique hat decoration
The reason why I'm wearing it
I will reply that there is a specific purpose behind my green willow adornment
It's all for my true love
I am wearing the green willow as a symbol of my loyalty and love towards my distant partner
Who's far far away
The person I love is unfortunately located far away from me
Fare the well cold winter
I say goodbye to the harsh and bitter winter season
And fare the well cold frost
I also say farewell to the frost that comes with winter
But nothing have I gain
The winter season brought no benefits to me
But my own true love I've lost
Unfortunately, I have lost my beloved partner
I'll sing and I'll be merry
Nevertheless, I will express my happiness through singing and being joyful
When occasion I do see
Whenever I have the opportunity
She's a false deluded young girl
I believe that my lost love was dishonest and misguided
Let here go farewell she
Therefore, I am moving on and saying goodbye to her
The other night she brought me
Recently, she gave me a fine diamond ring as a gift
A fine diamond ring but
However, that was not what I truly wanted
She tought to have deprive me
She may have tried to deprive me of something more important
Of a far better thing
Perhaps she was keeping something more valuable from me
But I being careful
As a cautious lover
As lovers ought to be
I took the time to consider everything carefully
She's a false deluded young girl
Ultimately, I could not trust my partner and believe she is misguided
Let her go farewell she
Therefore, I have decided to move on and say farewell to her once and for all
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: J BAIRD, PD TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind