Passamezzo: The world is turned upside down
The world turned upside down - a Royalist ballad from 1646 about Parliament banning Christmas.
Robin Jeffrey: lute
Alison Kinder: bass viol
Tamsin Lewis: Renaissance violin
Michael Palmer : baritone
The World turn’d upside down
Listen to me and you shall hear, news hath not been this thousand year:
Since Herod, Caesar, and many more, you never heard the like before.
Holy-days are despis'd, new fashions are devis'd, Old Christmas is kicked out of Town
Yet let's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn'd upside down.
The wise men did rejoice to see our Saviour Christ’s Nativity:
The Angels did good tidings bring, the Shepherds did rejoice and sing.
Let all honest men, take example by them. Why should we from good Laws be bound?
Yet let's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn'd upside down.
Our Lords and Knights, and Gentry too, doe mean old fashions to forgoe:
They set a porter at the gate, that none must enter in thereat.
They count it a sin, when poor people come in. Hospitality it self is drown'd.
Yet let's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn'd upside down.
The serving men doe sit and whine, and think it long ere dinner time:
The Butler's still out of the way, or else my Lady keeps the key,
The poor old cook, in the larder doth look, where is no goodness to be found,
Yet let's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn'd upside down.
To conclude, I'll tell you news that's right, Christmas was kill'd at Naseby fight:
Charity was slain at that same time, Jack Tell troth too, a friend of mine,
Likewise then did die, rost beef and shred pie, Pig, Goose and Capon no quarter found.
Yet let's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn'd upside down.
Thomason Tracts, 1646
from Passamezzo's recording Old Christmas Returned: Christmas celebrated, banned and restored in 17thC England
https://passamezzo.bandcamp.com/album...