A Soalin' is a traditional song I sang in a chorus in a fourth and fifth grade holiday school production. It refers to
All Souls' Day in
England where the poor begged households for
soul cakes, flat cakes marked with crosses and in return, they promised to pray for the households' families and passed loved ones. This version contains lyrics
samples of
Hey Ho, Nobody Home and
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.
Hey ho, nobody home, meat nor drink nor money have I none
Yet shall we be merry, hey ho, nobody home.
Hey ho, nobody home, meat nor drink nor money have I none
Yet shall we be merry, hey ho, nobody home.
Hey ho, nobody home.
Chorus:
Soul, a soul, a soul cake, please good missus a soul cake.
An apple, a pear, a plum, a cherry,
any good thing to make us all merry,
One for Peter, two for Paul, three for Him who made us all.
God bless the master of this house, and the mistress also
And all the little children that round your table grow.
The cattle in your stable and the dog by your front door
And all that dwell within your gates
we wish you ten times more.
Chorus (1x)
Go down into the cellar and see what you can find
If the barrels are not empty we hope you will be kind.
We hope you will be kind with your apple and strawber'
For we'll come no more a 'soulin' till this time next year.
Chorus (1x)
The streets are very dirty, my shoes are very thin.
I have a little pocket to put a penny in.
If you haven't got a penny, a halve penny will do.
If you haven't got a halve penny then God bless you.
Chorus (1x)
Now to the Lord sing praises all you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace.
This holy tide of Christmas of beauty and of grace,
Oh tidings of comfort and joy.