Mistletoe Bough

Intro: Verse The mistletoe bough in the olden time Was honoured in many a sacred rhyme By bards and by singers of high degree When cut from its place on the old oak tree By white-robed Druid with golden knife For they thought it a magical Tree of Life And many a promise and holy vow They were solemnly sworn on the mistletoe bough Verse The mistletoe bough in the Norseman's lay Told ever of horrors, and love's dismay When the old blind god, by a sportive blow Laid Balder, the beautiful sun god, low Thenceforth it was deemed an accursed thing But love out of sorrow could victory bring And the tears of Freja are shining now Like the orient, pearls on the mistletoe bough Verse The mistletoe bough on the festive throng Looks down amid echoes of mirthful song Where hearts they make music, as old friends meet Whose pulse keeps the time to the dancer's feet And eyes they are brighter with looks of love Than gems outshining the lamps up above And who is she that will not allow A kiss that's claimed under the mistletoe bough? Verse N.C. From the regions of the east N.C. There came a strong and handsome beast N.C. Slow indeed his paces are N.C. None with donkey can compare N.C. For the load that he will bear N.C. Hail, Sir Donkey, hail Outro