there are varied lyrics for this song
Lyrics
Shakespeare, As You Like It, Act 4, Scene 2
Second Lord (sings)
What shall he have that killed the deer?
His leather skin and horns to wear.
Then sing him home.
(The rest shall bear this burden.)
Take thou no scorn to wear the horn.
It was a crest ere thou wast born.
Thy father’s father wore it,
And thy father bore it.
The horn, the horn, the lusty horn
Is not a thing to laugh to scorn.
Helston recording
Robin Hood and Little John
Are both gone to the fair O
And we will to the merry greenwood
To see what they do there O
And for to chase O
To chase the buck and doe
Chorus (after each verse):
Hal-an-tow, jolly rumble O
For we were up as soon as any day O
And for to fetch the summer home
The summer and the May O
For summer is a-come O
And winter is a-gone O
As for St. George O
St. George he was the knight O
Of all the knights in Christendom
St. George he had the right O
In every land O
The land where’er we go
But for a greater than St. George
Our Helston has the right O
St. Michael with his wings outspread
The archangel so bright O
Who fought the fiend O
Of all mankind the foe
The Watersons sing Hal-an-Tow on Frost and Fire
Take the scorn to wear the horn
It was the crest when you was born
Your father’s father wore it
And your father wore it too
Chorus (after each verse):
Hal-an-tow, jolly rumble O
We were up long before the day O
To welcome in the summer,
To welcome in the May O
The summer is a-coming in
And winter’s gone away O
What happened to the Spaniards
That made so great a boast O?
Why they shall eat the feathered goose
And we shall eat the roast O
Robin Hood and Little John
Have both gone to the fair O
And we will to the merry green wood
To hunt the buck and hare O
God bless Aunt Mary Moyses
And all her power and might O
And send us peace to England
Send peace by day and night O
The Watersons sing Hal-an-Tow in Travelling for a Living
Since man was first created
His works have been debated
We have celebrated
The coming of the Spring
Chorus (after each verse):
Hal-an-tow, jolly rumble O
We were up long before the day O
To welcome in the summer,
To welcome in the May O
The summer is a-coming in
And winter’s gone away O
Take the scorn to wear the horn
It was the crest when you was born
Your father’s father wore it
And your father wore it too
God bless Aunt Mary Moyses
And all her power and might O
And send us peace to England
Send peace by day and night O
Shirley Collins sings Hal-an-Tow
Robin Hood and Little John
They both are gone to fair O
And we will to the greenwood
To see what they do there O
And for to chase O
To chase the buck and doe
Chorus (after each verse):
Hal-an-tow, jolly rumble O
For we are up as soon as any day O
For to fetch the summer home
The summer and the May O
For summer is a-coming in
And winter is a-gone
Where are the Spaniards
That made so great a boast O?
Why they shall eat the goose feather
And we shall eat the roast O
In every land O
The land where’er we go
And as for our good knight St. George
St. George he was a knight O
Of all the knights in Christendom
St. George he is the right O
In every land O
The land where’er we go
God bless Aunt Mary Moyses
And all her power and might O
And send us peace in England
Send peace by day and night O
In merry England
Both now and evermore
Job Boden sings Hal-an-Tow
What shall we have that kill the deer?
His leather skin and horns to wear
Then sing him home without a care
The rest shall bear this burden
Take no scorn to wear the horn
It was the crest when you was born
Your father’s father wore it
And your father wore it too
Chorus (after each verse):
Hal-an-tow, jolly rumble O
We were up long before the day O
To welcome in the summer,
To welcome in the May O
For summer is a-coming in
And winter’s gone away O
What happened to the Spaniards
That made so brave a boast O?
Oh they shall eat the feathered goose
And we shall eat the roast O
Now Robin Hood and Little John
They both went to the fair O
And we shall to the jolly green wood
To hunt the buck and hare O
God bless Aunt Mary Moses
And all her power and might O
And send us peace to England
Send peace by day and night O
For the cadence, melody what ever of this song here is a good resource
https://www.riseupandsing.org/songs/hal-tow
Unplugged Pagan 