Newlyn Card

As far back as I can remember, I with all the other members of our family had a special bun, made in the shape of a bird, to eat on Christmas Eve. My mother and her brothers, and their parents, uncles and aunts had always done the same. My great-grandparents, when the Christmas saffron cake was being made, used to pick out pieces of the dough, make them into this bird-shape and bake them. Then each member of the family were given one and the Dilly Carol was sung. My sister gave such Christmas buns to her children and my niece, who live with me says, "Yes I remember the lovely bird".

The Dilly Carol

"Come and I will sing you."
"What will you sing me?
"I will sing you ONE, O,"
"What is your ONE, O?"

One of them was all alone,
Ever will remain so.

"Come and I will sing you."
"What will you sing me?
"I will sing you TWO, O,"
"What is your TWO, O?"

Two of them were lily-white babes,
Clothed all in green, O
One of them was all alone,
Ever will remain so.

"Come and I will sing you."
"What will you sing me?
"I will sing you THREE, O,"
"What is your THREE, O?"

Three of them were strangers,
Two of them were lily-white babes,
Clothed all in green, O
One of them was all alone,
Ever will remain so.

"Come and I will sing you."
"What will you sing me?
"I will sing you FOUR, O,"
"What is your FOUR, O?"

Four, the four Evangelists,
Three of them were strangers,
Two of them were lily-white babes,
Clothed all in green, O
One of them was all alone,
Ever will remain so.

"Come and I will sing you."
"What will you sing me?
"I will sing you FIVE, O,"
"What is your FIVE, O?"

Five, the Ferryman in the boat
Four, the four Evangelists,
Three of them were strangers,
Two of them were lily-white babes,
Clothed all in green, O
One of them was all alone,
Ever will remain so.

"Come and I will sing you."
"What will you sing me?
"I will sing you SIX, O,"
"What is your SIX, O?"

Six, the Gospel Preacher,
Five, the Ferryman in the boat
Four, the four Evangelists,
Three of them were strangers,
Two of them were lily-white babes,
Clothed all in green, O
One of them was all alone,
Ever will remain so.

"Come and I will sing you."
"What will you sing me?
"I will sing you SEVEN, O,"
"What is your SEVEN, O?"

Seven, the seven stars in the sky,
Six, the Gospel Preacher,
Five, the Ferryman in the boat
Four, the four Evangelists,
Three of them were strangers,
Two of them were lily-white babes,
Clothed all in green, O
One of them was all alone,
Ever will remain so.

"Come and I will sing you."
"What will you sing me?
"I will sing you EIGHT, O,"
"What is your EIGHT, O?"

Eight it is the Morning Break
When all the world's awake, O.
Seven, the seven stars in the sky,
Six, the Gospel Preacher,
Five, the Ferryman in the boat
Four, the four Evangelists,
Three of them were strangers,
Two of them were lily-white babes,
Clothed all in green, O
One of them was all alone,
Ever will remain so.

"Come and I will sing you."
"What will you sing me?
"I will sing you NINE, O,"
"What is your NINE, O?"

Nine, is the dilly Bird,
That's never seen but heard, O.
Eight it is the Morning Break
When all the world's awake, O.
Seven, the seven stars in the sky,
Six, the Gospel Preacher,
Five, the Ferryman in the boat
Four, the four Evangelists,
Three of them were strangers,
Two of them were lily-white babes,
Clothed all in green, O
One of them was all alone,
Ever will remain so.

"Come and I will sing you."
"What will you sing me?
"I will sing you TEN, O,"
"What is your TEN, O?"

Ten, the Commandments,
And ten begins again, O