Sumer is icumen in is a medieval song from the 13th century. It is usually song as a round.
It's meaning is that Summer is Coming In or Summer has arrived.
It has been sung by many groups, often choirs or madrigal singers. Richard Thompson also has a version, but I chose this lovely selection by the Lumina Vocal Ensemble.
Middle English[edit]
Svmer is icumen in
Lhude sing cuccu Groweþ sed and bloweþ med and springþ þe wde nu Sing cuccu Awe bleteþ after lomb lhouþ after calue cu Bulluc sterteþ bucke uerteþ murie sing cuccu Cuccu cuccu Wel singes þu cuccu ne swik þu nauer nu Sing cuccu nu • Sing cuccu. Sing cuccu • Sing cuccu nu (Millett 2003b) Modern English[edit]
Summer[a] has arrived,
Sing loudly, cuckoo! The seed is growing And the meadow is blooming, And the wood is coming into leaf now, Sing, cuckoo! The ewe is bleating after her lamb, The cow is lowing after her calf; The bullock is prancing, The billy-goat farting, Sing merrily, cuckoo! Cuckoo, cuckoo, You sing well, cuckoo, Never stop now. Sing, cuckoo, now; sing, cuckoo; Sing, cuckoo; sing, cuckoo, now! (Millett 2003d) |
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