Please to See the King
A traditional carol from Pembrokeshire, South Wales, commemorating the ritual hunting and killing of the "King", a wren dressed in ribbons and cloth and placed in a box. On Saint Stephen's Day, December 26, young boys carried the wren from door to door as a sort of mumming, usually asking for a penny to show the "King" to the household.
- Joy, health, love and peace
- Be all here in this place.
- By your leave we will sing
- Concerning our King.
- Our King is well dressed,
- In silks of the best,
- In ribbons so rare,
- No king can compare.
- We have travelled many miles,
- Over hedges and stiles,
- In search of our King,
- Unto you we bring.
- We have powder and shot,
- To conquer the lot.
- We have cannon and ball,
- To conquer them all.
- Old Christmas is past,
- Twelfth Night is the Last.
- And we bid you adieu,
- Great joy to the new.