This song celebrates spring, when cuckoos arrive in England, spring flowers are blooming in the meadows and trees come into leaf. The offspring of the cow and sheep are so small that their mothers are still looking after them. It's certainly not summer as we define it nowadays. The first line may translate to "summer has arrived" but when this rota was written there were only two seasons, summer and winter, so early "sumer" was in fact what we call mid-spring today.
The celebration of summer in "Sumer Is Icumen In" is similar to that of spring in the French poetic genre known as the reverdie (lit. "re-greening"). However, there are grounds for doubting such a straightforward and naïve interpretation. The language used lacks all of the conventional springtime-renewal words of a reverdie (such as "green", "new", "begin", or "wax") except for springþ, and elements of the text, especially the cuckoo and the farmyard noises, are susceptible of double meanings. "It is the wrong bird, the wrong season, and the wrong language for a reverdie, unless an ironic meaning is intended"
@@Cheezsoup Hmm - if you're going to quote a wikipedia article, you should at least say that you are doing so - or does the wikipedia article quote you? 😛
The song will play on, please don't stop now, it runs; sing, cuckoo,now,sing cuckoo,sing cuckoo, now - from "a traditional English round" by Laura Barton. Thank you for sharing a pleasant video. It's wonderful.
My music teacher in grade school had us sing this song at our school concert. Probably in 1991-1992. For some reason, I just randomly got the song suck in my head. Lol
Gilmaris is right. "Sumer is icumen in" is not translated as "Summer is a-comin' in" but "Summer is come in", stating that the event has happened and the condition remains. So yes, it is clearly a summer song. And where does anyone say they're performing a mass? Looks to me like a secular event being held in the nave of a church that doesn't have a parish hall, or at least doesn't have adequate seating in the parish hall.
They’re not. This is all but Modern English. And sung, as from London/the Home Counties. This could easily be from 1800 - later, even. The original dates from at least the 1260’s (the earliest manuscript was copied between 1261-1264) and is not only Middle English but the Wessex dialect to boot. If sufficiently interested, review the Wikipedia entry for the song - and compare what you read there to what you read here.
Possibly the best version of this song on CZcams. Not too fast (or slow) and the layered parts come across clearly. Just a shame it's necessary to skip some really dodgy poetry to reach the actual singing at @0:35 !
Actually - arguably the *worst* version. It’s sung in all-but-modern English ( *not* Middle English), in an American accent. Look at the Richard Thompson version(s). Sung by an Englishman and *in Middle English*. This is just clueless Americans once again driving a bulldozer through something they don’t inherently understand.
The group sang with gusto hailing the arrival of 'sumer' (or 'zummer' as it's said in parts of south west England) The important thing here, is to have a good time and be happy.
Omg, My music teacher just made us listin to this, and that night while me and my mom were decorating for Halloween, I was like: I NEED MUUUUSICCCCC, So I put this song on and, My mom be like: 😑😑😑😑😑
Does it look like they're doing a mass to you? These days it is perfectly normal to have SECULAR concerts in churches. Also, it absolutely IS a summer song. "Summer is icumen in" means summer HAS come, or in other words, "it's summer!"
i always thought it was cows farting, then I saw billy-goats farting, now stags farting. So the best we can translate the Middle English, ruminant quadrupeds are farting. That's summer to me!
you have completly mis inturpreted this song... for 1.... it clearly is not a summer song... summer is obviously coming...thus the name. OK so thats just obvious...now lets talk about this beautiful song's history. It is a polyphonic SECULAR song...not apart of the Mass Ordinary thus not apart of chruch...thank you goodnight Vote for Nadar
It is a summer song because "sumer is icumen in" does not translate as "is coming in" but as "is come in", So it means summer is here or has arrived........ good night!
When the villagers start singing this you fucking book it
that is fucking hilarious
This is beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
This song celebrates spring, when cuckoos arrive in England, spring flowers are blooming in the meadows and trees come into leaf. The offspring of the cow and sheep are so small that their mothers are still looking after them. It's certainly not summer as we define it nowadays.
The first line may translate to "summer has arrived" but when this rota was written there were only two seasons, summer and winter, so early "sumer" was in fact what we call mid-spring today.
The celebration of summer in "Sumer Is Icumen In" is similar to that of spring in the French poetic genre known as the reverdie (lit. "re-greening"). However, there are grounds for doubting such a straightforward and naïve interpretation. The language used lacks all of the conventional springtime-renewal words of a reverdie (such as "green", "new", "begin", or "wax") except for springþ, and elements of the text, especially the cuckoo and the farmyard noises, are susceptible of double meanings. "It is the wrong bird, the wrong season, and the wrong language for a reverdie, unless an ironic meaning is intended"
summer is a'coming in
www.classicfm.com/discover-music/periods-genres/early-music/oldest-english-song-sumer-is-icumen-in/
It's a great song with a long history.
@@Cheezsoup Hmm - if you're going to quote a wikipedia article, you should at least say that you are doing so - or does the wikipedia article quote you? 😛
@@adolforodolfo6929
Yep. Usually quote sources but as I can't even remember making this I can make no defemse
Gorgeous costumes and nice singing!
cumli- song, singing, and costumes. Thanks for uploading this.
The song will play on, please don't stop now, it runs; sing, cuckoo,now,sing cuckoo,sing cuckoo, now - from "a traditional English round" by Laura Barton. Thank you for sharing a pleasant video. It's wonderful.
Good song to burn someone in a wicker Man 😂
OH GOD!!!!! OH JESUS CHROIIIIIIST!!!!
@@michaelnewton1332 JEEEASSSSUSSSSSS
most delightful!
thank you!
Excellent! Thanks for posting.
The Number One Song on the charts, 800 years ago !
My music teacher in grade school had us sing this song at our school concert. Probably in 1991-1992. For some reason, I just randomly got the song suck in my head. Lol
let me sing you the song of my people
Which it isn’t. You’re a bloody Canadian.
who else is here from abeka
Hello, would you allow me to use your video/audio for a video commentary I'm doing thats music related? Thank you!
nice song
Gilmaris is right. "Sumer is icumen in" is not translated as "Summer is a-comin' in" but "Summer is come in", stating that the event has happened and the condition remains. So yes, it is clearly a summer song.
And where does anyone say they're performing a mass? Looks to me like a secular event being held in the nave of a church that doesn't have a parish hall, or at least doesn't have adequate seating in the parish hall.
More like mid-spring is here, but close enough
Impressed - Americans singing in Middle English.
They’re not. This is all but Modern English. And sung, as from London/the Home Counties. This could easily be from 1800 - later, even. The original dates from at least the 1260’s (the earliest manuscript was copied between 1261-1264) and is not only Middle English but the Wessex dialect to boot. If sufficiently interested, review the Wikipedia entry for the song - and compare what you read there to what you read here.
Nice to see a secular English song sung in the house of your christ god. Pagan song in roots
Pls come to brazil
Good work !
Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
Beautiful
I’m here because of Mr. Bucy’s English class with Abeka’s video curriculum😂
Possibly the best version of this song on CZcams. Not too fast (or slow) and the layered parts come across clearly. Just a shame it's necessary to skip some really dodgy poetry to reach the actual singing at @0:35 !
no, the best version of this song, on CZcams or anywhere else, will always be the mice on the mouse organ from Bagpuss :)
Actually - arguably the *worst* version. It’s sung in all-but-modern English ( *not* Middle English), in an American accent. Look at the Richard Thompson version(s). Sung by an Englishman and *in Middle English*. This is just clueless Americans once again driving a bulldozer through something they don’t inherently understand.
Felt cute might recite Psalm 23 while I am being immolated later idk...
Well well, so our US friends can! do it, Magic stuff you guys, a big smile this end...................Les Liverpool Uni.
With admiration from England - beautifully performed. I wish I had been there.
The group sang with gusto hailing the arrival of 'sumer' (or 'zummer' as it's said in parts of south west England) The important thing here, is to have a good time and be happy.
Not the bees !! Not the bees!!
Omg, My music teacher just made us listin to this, and that night while me and my mom were decorating for Halloween, I was like: I NEED MUUUUSICCCCC, So I put this song on and, My mom be like: 😑😑😑😑😑
Anyone 2021??
Sorry, meant @0:30
Does it look like they're doing a mass to you? These days it is perfectly normal to have SECULAR concerts in churches. Also, it absolutely IS a summer song. "Summer is icumen in" means summer HAS come, or in other words, "it's summer!"
More like mid-spring, but close enough.
Where I heard an American accent, I expected it to be terrible . But. Ot was wonderful.
Not the bee!! Not the bee!!
used to sing this at school in the 60s
0:29
i always thought it was cows farting, then I saw billy-goats farting, now stags farting. So the best we can translate the Middle English, ruminant quadrupeds are farting. That's summer to me!
The line is bucke uerteþ, billy-goat farting :)
opus aeternus
Love it! I sang it with a choir in college in Taiwan under a professor from Germany.. many years ago.. So good to hear it again! Great job!
Did they actually sing the line "the buck farteth" - in church ? ;-)
It's' bullock farteth'.
The goat was the one farting.
@@rogueriderhood1862 its actually "bucke uerteþ"
@@rogueriderhood1862 Nah mate.The bollock was starting, it was definitely the buck who had the gas issue!
Buck inverteth as in mating
Is that old american-english haha,I mean the pronunciation is far from the old english,but congrats for the endeavor and costumes.
Middle English*
reminds me of the last sacrifice I attended.
So many critics just enjoy it
Ah, bucke uerteþ, the billy-goat farting
It loses its appeal, sing it slower, while burning sacrifices in a wicker man.
you have completly mis inturpreted this song... for 1.... it clearly is not a summer song... summer is obviously coming...thus the name. OK so thats just obvious...now lets talk about this beautiful song's history. It is a polyphonic SECULAR song...not apart of the Mass Ordinary thus not apart of chruch...thank you goodnight
Vote for Nadar
It is a summer song because "sumer is icumen in" does not translate as "is coming in" but as "is come in", So it means summer is here or has arrived........ good night!