Maying/Beltane Songs: Jack in the Green

Now winter is over I'm happy to say--
And we're all met again on the first day of May,
And we're all met again in our ribbons so gay,
To go about dancing with Jack in the Green,
Jack in the green, Jack in the Green,
To go about dancing with Jack in the Green.

Now, Jack in the Green, he's a very strange man--
Though he dies every autumn, he's born every spring,
And every year on May Day, we will dance through the street,
And in return our Jack, he’ll ripen our wheat,
Jack in the Green, Jack in the Green,
And in return our Jack, he ’ll ripen our wheat.

With his mantle, he'll cover the trees that are bare,
And our gardens, he'll trim with his jacket so fair,
And our fields, he will sow with the hairs on his head,
And our grain it will ripen till old Jack is dead,
Jack in the Green, Jack in the Green,
And our grain it will ripen till old Jack is dead.

Now the sun is half up and betokens the hour,
And the children arrive with their garlands of flowers,
So now let the music and dancing begin,
And touch the young heart of young Jack in the Green,
Jack in the Green, Jack in the Green,
And touch the young heart of young Jack in the Green!

In folklore, Jack-in-the-Green is often associated with the enigmatic figure usually known as “the Green Man.” Representations of the Green Man are found in much European sculpture—both sacred and secular—as well as other works of art.  The term was coined by Lady Raglan in 1936.  It is a reference to an ornamental motif common in sculpture and woodcarvings in churches from the Norman and Gothic periods. This ornamental motif is a male head most commonly depicted by a foliate head which is completely covered in or composed of healthy green leaves  and/or the male  disgorging head, with verdant vegetation and vines spewing forth from the mouth.

Jack-in-the-Green is also a traditional participant in May celebrations in the UK. The leaf covered figure is sometime known as "Green George," "Robin Hood," or “Green Jack.” This leaf man character will  dance, parade, or otherwise perform with musicians, Morris dancers, and other traditional characters.  There are other names in parts of Europe.

I thought I remembered Ian Anderson singing Jack in the Green at a Bardic circle at one of the Chesapeake Pagan Community gatherings. I just suspected or assumed this song was written by him. (The lyrics recorded above are what I personally have sang to myself from my imperfect memory.)  

Yet since posting this song, “Jack in the Green,” I have learned that the song was written and copyrighted by Martin Graebe in 1972. I also discovered that the lyrics as I remembered them are NOT quite correct. Below is the original version of the song, as posted on < a href="http://awe.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=9776" target="_top">The Mudcat Cafe website.

According to Martin Graebe: This song was written when Cherri and I were living to the east of Exeter in the area that is marked on the Ordnance Survey map as "Jack in the Green." We were also drinking fairly often in the pub of the same name and the connection led to the above bit of fantasy based on traditional themes. A number of people have told me at different times that they have heard "Jack in the Green" described as a traditional song. It was the first of my songs to turn up on the Internet Most recently, someone told me about an American CD of pagan music that includes Jack as an example of a traditional pagan song from the British Isles.

JACK IN THE GREEN
(Martin Graebe, 1972)
1. Now winter is over I'm happy to say
And we're all met again in our ribbons so gay
And we're all met again, to rejoice in the spring
And to go about dancing with Jack in the Green
Jack in the Green, Jack in the Green
And we'll all dance each springtime with Jack in the Green

2. Now Jack in the Green is a very strange man
Though he dies every autumn, he's born every spring
And each year on his birthday, we will dance through the street
And in return Jacky will ripen our wheat
Jack in the Green, Jack in the Green
And we'll all dance each springtime with Jack in the Green

3. Now all you young maidens I'd have you beware
Of touching young Jack, for there's strange powers there.
For if you but touch him, there is many will tell
Like the wheat in our fields so your belly will swell.
Jack in the Green, Jack in the Green
And we'll all dance each springtime with Jack in the Green

4. With his mantle he'll cover the trees that are bare
Our gardens he'll trim with his jacket so fair
But our fields he will sow with the hair on his head
And our grain it will ripen till old Jack is dead
Jack in the Green, Jack in the Green
And we'll all dance each springtime with Jack in the Green

5. Now the sun is half up and it signals the hour
That the children arrive with their garlands of flowers
So now let the music and dancing begin
And touch the good heart of young Jack in the Green
Jack in the Green, Jack in the Green
And we'll all dance each springtime with Jack in the Green

Uploaded April 30, 2020

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May Day Jack-in-the-Green Gingerbread Men
Practical Celebration Recipies and Preps
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