Valentine Wolfe

Lyrics

Down with the rosemary and bays 
Down with the mistletoe 
Instead of holly now up-raise 
The greener box for show 

Thus times and seasons oft do shift 
Each thing his turn doth hold 
New thoughts and things now do succeed 
As former things grow old 

The holly hitherto did sway 
Let box now domineer 
Until the dancing Easter day 
Or Easter’s Eve appear 

Then youthful box which now hath grace 
Your houses to renew 
Grown old, surrender must his place 
Unto the crisped yew 

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

Green rushes then and sweetest bents 
With cooler oaken boughs 
Come in for comely ornaments 
To re-adorn the house