10th December, 2022
Deck the Halls
arranged by John Thomas (1826 -1913)
Edited by Anne Griffiths (1934 -2020)
You will recognise this as the melody for Deck the Halls (originally Deck the Hall) although one note in the melody is strikingly different from the ubiquitous Christmas carol version. It is not technically an Advent carol, but intended for New Year’s Eve. However, Deck the Halls is often heard during Advent and we are happy to include it here.
The earliest manuscript version of this tune was written by blind Welsh harpist John Parry in 1700.
Another Welsh harpist John Thomas published this arrangement of the carol in the second of his four volumes of Welsh Melodies with Welsh and English Poetry in 1862, a year after he had received the accolade of Pencerdd Gwalia meaning Chief Musician of Wales at the Eisteddfod in Aberdare.
The history behind the music and the words shows that as Nos Galan, this did not always have a religious or spiritual theme. When Deck the Halls was first published in 1794 in Edward Jones Musical and Poetical Relics of the Welsh Bards, it had the following lyrics:
O mor gynnes mynwes meinwen,
fal lal lal lal lal lal lal lal la:
O mor fwyn yw llwya meillionen,
fal lal lal lal lal lal lal lal la:
O mor felus yw’r cusanau,
[instrumental flourish]
Gyda serch a mwynion eiriau,
fal lal lal lal lal lal lal lal la:
Oh! how soft my fair one’s bosom,
fal lal lal lal lal lal lal lal la:
Oh! how sweet the grove in blossom,
fal lal lal lal lal lal lal lal la:
Oh! how blessed are the blisses,
[instrumental flourish]
Words of love, and mutual kisses,
fal lal lal lal lal lal lal lal la:
Around the same time that John Thomas was publishing his volumes of arrangements of Welsh Melodies, other lyrics, more pertinent to the end of the year appeared in print written by John Ceiriog Hughes with English lyrics provided by John Oxenford (1812-1877), ca. 1873
1. Soon the hoar old year will leave us,
Fal, la, la , la, la, la, la, la, la.
But the parting must not grieve us,
Fal, la, la , la, la, la, la, la, la.
When the New Year comes tomorrow,
Fal, la, la , la, la, la, la, la, la.
Let him find no trace of sorrow,
Fal, la, la , la, la, la, la, la, la.
2. He our pleasures may redouble,
Fal, la, la , la, la, la, la, la, la.
He may bring us store of trouble,
Fal, la, la , la, la, la, la, la, la.
Hope the best and gaily meet him,
Fal, la, la , la, la, la, la, la, la.
With a jovial chorus greet him,
Fal, la, la , la, la, la, la, la, la.
3. At his birth he brings us gladness,
Fal, la, la , la, la, la, la, la, la.
Ponder not on future sadness,
Fal, la, la , la, la, la, la, la, la.
Anxious care is now but folly,
Fal, la, la , la, la, la, la, la, la.
Fill the mead-cup, hang the holly,
Fal, la, la , la, la, la, la, la, la.
Further variants on the words also exist, but the English words with which we are most familiar appeared in the John Thomas volume. They were written by a Scotsman called Them Oliphant, whilst different Welsh lyrics were also published in the same volume by John Jones (Talhaiam):
Deck the hall with boughs of holly,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
‘Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Fill the meadcup, drain the barrel,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Troul the ancient Yuletide carol,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
See the flowing bowl before us,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Strike the harp, and join in chorus:
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Follow me in merry measure,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
While I sing of beauty’s treasure.
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Fast away the old year passes,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses:
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Laughing quaffing all together,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Heedless of the wind and weather.
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
As far back as Medieval times, carols had fa la la refrains and this carol may well originally date back that far.
1794 publication of the Nos Galan by Edward Jones.