Hal an Tow
The Changing Room Lyrics
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The red of roses in their cheeks & garlands in their hair
Menfolk in their finery in hats and polished shoes Time to settle all
Their debts and pay what's overdue Shaking hands with
'One and all', enemies and friends Celebrating winter's end
We'll see the old year out in style,
And welcome in the new
I'll dance and sway and weave my way
A-way we go with a hal-an-tow We'll dance,
And feast and sing A-way we go with a
Hal-an-tow We'll drink and toast the spring
The green man brings fertility and leads the serpentine Men and women,
Young and old our rituals combine We dance for
New life, dance for sun and dance for fortunes fair
We sow our seed ...
And a harvest we prepare We'll see the old year out in style,
And welcome in the new
I'll dance and sway and weave my way
Across the square to you
A-way we go with a hal-an-tow We'll dance,
And feast and sing A-way we go with a
Hal-an-tow We'll drink and toast the spring
Red and white the roses
Clear and bright the ale
A shilling in your purse kind sir
I wish that it was mine
The 8th of May, St Michael's Day The end of wintertime
The Changing Room's song Hal-an-Tow is a celebration of spring and the end of winter, depicting the joy of people dancing, feasting, and singing after enduring the cold and dark season. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the festivities, with lily of the valley pinned to maidens' fair, red roses in their cheeks, and menfolk decked out in finery. The song also references pagan rituals, with the green man bringing fertility and leading the serpentine dance, which involves men, women, young and old.
The chorus "A-way we go with a Hal-an-Tow, We'll dance, And feast and sing" is a call to join in the celebration and embrace the coming of spring. The song speaks to the human desire to gather together, put aside grievances, and celebrate life's milestones. The reference to settling debts and shaking hands with "one and all" speaks to the importance of community and reconciliation during this time.
Overall, Hal-an-Tow is a celebration of the renewal of life, the end of hardship, and the joy of communal festivities. It reminds us of the eternal cycle of life, death, and renewal, which we can celebrate through music, dance, and shared traditions.
Line by Line Meaning
Lily of the valley, pinned to maidens fair
Beautiful maidens adorned with delicate, fragrant lilies
The red of roses in their cheeks & garlands in their hair
Lovely women with rosy cheeks and rose garlands in their hair
Menfolk in their finery in hats and polished shoes
Dapper men wearing their best clothing, hats, and polished shoes
Time to settle all their debts and pay what's overdue
It's time to pay debts and settle any outstanding obligations
Shaking hands with 'One and all', enemies and friends
Shaking hands with everyone, even those who were once enemies
Celebrating winter's end
Rejoicing at the end of the cold winter
We'll see the old year out in style, And welcome in the new
A party to bade farewell to the old year and welcome the new one
I'll dance and sway and weave my way Across the square to you
Dancing, swaying, and weaving through the crowd to reach someone special
A-way we go with a hal-an-tow We'll dance, And feast and sing
We'll celebrate with a traditional dance, feast, and song
A-way we go with a Hal-an-tow We'll drink and toast the spring
We'll raise a glass to the arrival of spring
The green man brings fertility and leads the serpentine Men and women, Young and old our rituals combine
The Green Man symbolizes fertility and leads the serpentine dance, which brings everyone together regardless of age or gender
We dance for New life, dance for sun and dance for fortunes fair We sow our seed ...And a harvest we prepare
Dancing to bring new life, to welcome the sun, and to ensure good fortune in a bountiful harvest
Red and white the roses Clear and bright the ale A shilling in your purse kind sir I wish that it was mine
Red and white roses signify purity and ale is clear and bright, while wishing they had a shilling in their purse
The 8th of May, St Michael's Day The end of wintertime
May 8th, St Michael's Day marks the end of winter and the start of springtime
Contributed by Sydney M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
B Doney
on Row Boys Row
The Changing Room's song Row Boys Row is a tribute to the seiner fishermen of Cornwall, particularly those who worked on pulling in the yearly herring harvest during the 18th and 19th centuries. The song begins with the bowsmen, who guide the crews and steer the oarsmen straight and true. They are trusted to keep the boat steady as it sways, making the dangerous work of fishing safer. The lyrics then speak of the different kinds of fish caught during each season, with November bringing herring, October bringing hake, crabbing happening in the spring, and mackerel being caught in the summer.
The song includes a cry for the boys to row against the tide, with the huer (the man who stands on a cliff and directs the boat which direction the shoal has moved) providing the necessary motivation. Despite the harsh conditions, the work is rewarding. After a long day of fishing and hauling in the catch, the women wash and stack the fish to dry. The fishermen take pride in their hard work and look forward to the winter storms and gales, confident that they will have plenty of pilchards to see them through. Finally, the song ends with reference to lucrative export of fish to Catholic Europe and the The traditional "Toast to Pilchards".