Wassailing is a midwinter tradition wherein either orchards or households are blessed by guisers, which came to Wales through exposure to English custom.
The primary difference between the lyrics that appear here is that one version is a dialogue between the wassailers and the master and mistress they are appealing to for hospitality.
Now master and mistress if you are within Pray send out your maid with her lily-white skin For to open the door without more delay For our time it is precious and we cannot stay
Carolers Now Master and Mistress, know you will give Unto our jolly wassail as long as you live And if we do life to another new year We'll call in again just to see who lives here While we poor wassail boys stand out in the mire Come you pretty maid with your silver headed pin Pray open the door and let us come in
It's we poor wassail boys so weary and cold Please drop some small silver into our bowl And if we survive for another new year Perhaps we may call and see who does live here