Can I Not Sing But Hoy Lyrics

Can I not sing but hoy,
When the jolly shepherd made so much joy.

1. The shepherd upon a hill he sat,
He had on him his tabard and his hat,
His tar-box, his pipe, and his flagat;
For name was jolly, jolly Wat;
For he was a good herd's boy,
Ut hoy!
For in his pipe he made so much joy.
Can I not sing but hoy,
When the jolly shepherd made so much joy.

2. The shepherd upon a hill was laid,
His dog to his girdle was tied;
He had not slept but a little braid,
But "Gloria in excelsis" was to him said.
For he was a good herd's boy,
Ut hoy!
For in his pipe he made so much joy.
Can I not sing but hoy,
When the jolly shepherd made so much joy.

3. The shepherd on a hill he stood,
Round about him his sheep they yode;
He put his hand under his good,
He saw a star as red as blood.
For he was a good herd's boy,
Ut hoy!
For in his pipe he made so much joy.
Can I not sing but hoy,
When the jolly shepherd made so much joy.

4. "Now farewell Mall and also Will,
For my love go ye all still
Unto5 I come again you till,5
And evermore, Will, ring well thy bell."
For he was a good herd's boy,
Ut hoy!
For in his pipe he made so much joy.
Can I not sing but hoy,
When the jolly shepherd made so much joy.

5. "Now must I go where Christ was born;
Farewell! I come again to-morn.
Dog, keep well my sheep from the corn,
And warn well Warrock when I blow my horn."
For he was a good herd's boy,
Ut hoy!
For in his pipe he made so much joy.
Can I not sing but hoy,
When the jolly shepherd made so much joy.

6. When Wat to Bethlehem come was,
He sweat; he had gone faster than a pace;
He found Jesus in a simple place,
Between an ox and an ass.
For he was a good herd's boy,
Ut hoy!
For in his pipe he made so much joy.
Can I not sing but hoy,
When the jolly shepherd made so much joy.

7. The shepherd said anon right:
"I will go see yon ferly sight,
Whereas the angel singeth on height,
And the star that shineth so bright."
For he was a good herd's boy,
Ut hoy!
For in his pipe he made so much joy.
Can I not sing but hoy,
When the jolly shepherd made so much joy.

8. "Jesu! I offer to Thee here my pipe,
My script, my tar-box, and my skirt;
Home to my fellows now will I skip,
And also look unto my sheep."
For he was a good herd's boy,
Ut hoy!
For in his pipe he made so much joy.
Can I not sing but hoy,
When the jolly shepherd made so much joy.

9. "Now, farewell, my own herdsman Wat!"
"Yea, for God, Lady, even so I hight;
Lull well Jesu in thy lap,
And farewell, Joseph, with thy round cape!"
For he was a good herd's boy,
Ut hoy!
For in his pipe he made so much joy.
Can I not sing but hoy,
When the jolly shepherd made so much joy.

10. "Now may I well both hope and sing,
For I have been at Christ's bearing;
Home to my fellows now will I fling;
Christ of heaven to His bliss us bring!"
For he was a good herd's boy,
Ut hoy!
For in his pipe he made so much joy.
Can I not sing but hoy,
When the jolly shepherd made so much joy.