May Dew

[trad.]

Derek and Dorothy Elliott sang May Dew in 1972 on their eponymous Trailer album Derek & Dorothy Elliott. They noted:

The morning dew on the first of May has been regarded for centuries as the finest skin conditioner, and is now being produced commercially on Mount Fuji-Yama in Japan. This song is taken from Frank Kidson’s English Peasant Songs.

Bob and Gill Berry sang May Dew in 2006 on their WildGoose CD BitterSweet. They noted:

This song has a simplicity and joy about it that we could not resist singing it. We have sung this song since we met in 1984 and never tire of the lovely sentiment of going out early on a May morning and washing your face in the early morning dew to ensure enduring beauty. Beats a trip to the chemist any day! We first heard from the singing of Derek & Dorothy Elliott in the 80s and it was published in Frank Kidson’s English Peasant Songs.

Lyrics

Derek and Dorothy Elliott sing May Dew

Come pretty fair maids a secret to hear
Through parsley, rosemary and thyme
Spring time it is the sweet of the year
Come gather your May dew to keep your face fine

Come rise in the morn at the break of the day
Through parsley, rosemary and thyme
And the fields they are graced with the dew of the May
Come gather your May dew to keep your face fine

Pretty maids that live in the heart of the town
Through parsley, rosemary and thyme
Oh they have fine jewels and many a fine gown
But never the May dew to keep their face fine

Oh sweethearts they’re true as I’ve heard people say
Through parsley, rosemary and thyme
When pretty maids use the dew of the May
Tis there a last charm to keep their face fine

(repeat first verse)