An English folk group from Hull, Yorkshire, the Watersons performed mainly … Read Full Bio ↴An English folk group from Hull, Yorkshire, the Watersons performed mainly traditional songs with little or no accompaniment. Their distinctive sound came from their close harmonies.
Original members were Norma Waterson, Mike Waterson, and Lal Waterson, with their cousin John Harrison from Kingston High School. They had a skiffle band in the early 1960s but moved on to playing more traditional material. They were briefly known as "The Folksons".
Their first album was Frost and Fire 1965 (awarded the "Melody Maker" Album of the Year, a rarity for a debut album) followed by The Watersons and A Yorkshire Garland in 1966. The Watersons split up in 1968 when Norma went to work as a disc jockey on a radio station on Montserrat.
The group reformed in 1972 with John Harrison briefly replaced by Bernie Vickers. He in turn was replaced the same year by Norma's husband, and respected folk singer in his own right, Martin Carthy. This lineup recorded For Pence and Spicy Ale (1975), Sound, Sound Your Instruments of Joy (1977), and Green Fields (1981).
Later lineups featured Mike Waterson's daughter Rachel Waterson, who briefly replaced Lal during a leave of absence caused by ill health in the mid-1980s, then continued to sing with the group on Lal's return.
Lal Waterson died in 1998 and by the early 1990s Martin Carthy, Norma Waterson and their daughter Eliza Carthy had formed the group Waterson:Carthy.
The Watersons gradually ceased to sing live on a regular basis but the family occasionally reconvened for special events and festival appearances. The most recent of these were A Mighty River of Song at the Royal Albert Hall on 12 May 2007, the BBC Electric Proms concert Once in a Blue Moon: A Tribute to Lal Waterson at Cecil Sharp House in London on 25 October 2007 and 'A Tribute to Bert,' a concert celebrating the life and work of Albert Lloyd, at Cecil Sharp House on the 15th November 2008.
Original members were Norma Waterson, Mike Waterson, and Lal Waterson, with their cousin John Harrison from Kingston High School. They had a skiffle band in the early 1960s but moved on to playing more traditional material. They were briefly known as "The Folksons".
Their first album was Frost and Fire 1965 (awarded the "Melody Maker" Album of the Year, a rarity for a debut album) followed by The Watersons and A Yorkshire Garland in 1966. The Watersons split up in 1968 when Norma went to work as a disc jockey on a radio station on Montserrat.
The group reformed in 1972 with John Harrison briefly replaced by Bernie Vickers. He in turn was replaced the same year by Norma's husband, and respected folk singer in his own right, Martin Carthy. This lineup recorded For Pence and Spicy Ale (1975), Sound, Sound Your Instruments of Joy (1977), and Green Fields (1981).
Later lineups featured Mike Waterson's daughter Rachel Waterson, who briefly replaced Lal during a leave of absence caused by ill health in the mid-1980s, then continued to sing with the group on Lal's return.
Lal Waterson died in 1998 and by the early 1990s Martin Carthy, Norma Waterson and their daughter Eliza Carthy had formed the group Waterson:Carthy.
The Watersons gradually ceased to sing live on a regular basis but the family occasionally reconvened for special events and festival appearances. The most recent of these were A Mighty River of Song at the Royal Albert Hall on 12 May 2007, the BBC Electric Proms concert Once in a Blue Moon: A Tribute to Lal Waterson at Cecil Sharp House in London on 25 October 2007 and 'A Tribute to Bert,' a concert celebrating the life and work of Albert Lloyd, at Cecil Sharp House on the 15th November 2008.
Hal-An-Tow
The Watersons Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Hal-An-Tow' by these artists:
Oysterband Take the scorn and wear the horns It was the…
The Changing Room Lily of the valley, pinned to maidens fair The red of…
The Merry Wives of Windsor Jack has gone to wear the horns, It was the crest…
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Watersons:
Boston Harbour From Boston Harbour we set sail, When it was blowing a…
Chickens In The Garden When first I came down Yorkshire, Not many years ago. I met…
Country Life I like to rise when the sun she rises, early in…
Dido Bendigo As I was a walking one morning last autumn I've overheard…
Here We Come a-Wassailing Here we come a-wassailing among the leaves so green Here we…
Hilda's Cabinet Band Dancing to Hilda′s cabinet band Doing the one where you neve…
Pace-Egging Song Here's one two three jolly lads All in one mind We are…
Pleasure And Pain I'm leaving here on the morning train And I will never…
Sound Sound Your Instruments Of Joy Sound, Sound your instruments of Joy To triumph shake each …
The Good Old Way Lift up your hearts, Emmanuel's friends And taste the pleasu…
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks While shepherds watched their flocks by night all seated on…
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Lilah of the Bow Shaped Hill
Since man was first created
His works have been debated
We have celebrated
The coming of the Spring
Hal-an-tow, jolly rumble O
We were up long before the day O
To welcome in the summer,
To welcome in the May O
The summer is a-coming in
And winter's gone away O
Take no scorn to wear the horn
It was the crest when you was born
Your father's father wore it
And your father wore it too
Hal-an-tow, jolly rumble O
We were up long before the day O
To welcome in the summer,
To welcome in the May O
The summer is a-coming in
And winter's gone away O
God bless Aunt Mary Moyses
And all her power and might O
And send us peace to England
Send peace by day and night O
Hal-an-tow, jolly rumble O
We were up long before the day O
To welcome in the summer,
To welcome in the May O
The summer is a-coming in
And winter's gone away O
drumgold23
RIP Norma thank you for the songs, spells and magic.
John Curr
Our Folk Choir leader ( a beautiful singer herself) describes the tone she wants for various songs by reference to Norma's magnificent "open" tone. ...." We only need 25% Norma for this one"
Michael Igoe
That's funny :)
Jennifer Chapman
We sing this song around the Maypole at our school. Its a wonderful tradition! I love this version!
Patricia O'Meara
indeed wonderful, and magic
cabbage681
It is heart warming to know there is still a love of our traditional music. It contains our history in song form and when sung with such great harmony it becomes inspiring.
Colin Hugh Abbott
Jeez, they were a highlight of my life too! I was completely bowled over by their harmony. I first saw them perform in Belfast in about 1966. They were amazing! Absolutely stunning! Completely unpretentious and down to earth individuals. What a joy! Greetings to one and all from Colin Hugh Abbott in wonderful Western Australia.
Tim Ward
For at least 35 years, the Morris dance community in the Twin Cities of Minnesota gather at dawn on a park by the Mississippi River, and after the morning dances we always sing this song. I've been doing this since 1994, and will wake up in less than 8 hours on what will likely be a chilly, rainy dawn. It defines our season.
Keep the tradition alive, everyone, and Happy May Day.
Viridian Streams
omigosh this touches my heart to hear. I would've loved something like this when I was a child but never had anything like it to go to, I would still love it. Thank you for keeping the tradition alive. :)
Doug
Keep the tradition alive brother