Neighbouring Orchard Wassail

By the Neighbouring Orchard community and friends, arr. Jane Lewis

This song emerged from two songwriting workshops that I facilitated as part of Art Walk Porty Neighbouring Orchard Project in the autumn of 2025 and was first sung at the Neighbouring Orchard Walking Wassail on 24th January 2026.

Intro:
Blossom to blossom, tree to tree
Follow the trail of bees
Weaving between suburban trees
In pockets of land by the sea

1.I’m a Cutler Grieve in Bingham Park
I hear the children play
In a swathe of grass I stand alone
Grow stronger day by day
I grow stronger day by day

Chorus
We wassail our patchwork of apple trees
Give thanks for the gifts of fruit
Over the fences and under the walls
We’re braiding together our roots
We’re braiding together our roots

High and low harmony:
Apples to slice, apples to share,
Apples to juice and jelly,
Apples to stew, apples to store,
Apples so sweet in my belly
Apples so sweet in my belly

2.I’m a Ribston Pippin in Figgate Lane
Uprooted snapped in two
Many hands were there to tend to me
Until my new leaves grew
Until my new leaves grew
Chorus

3.I’m a Catshead apple beside the sea
I smell the salty air
I bend with the wind and watch the waves
The tide creeps ever near
As the tide creeps ever near
Chorus

4.In front of the doctors’ surgery
They call me Hawthornden
As the cars stream by I spread my boughs,
To welcome patients in
I will welcome patients in
Chorus

5.I’m East Lothian Pippin in the Wee Plot
A triangle of green
Loved by neighbours who have planted there
Redcurrants, kale and beans,
Grown redcurrants, kale and beans

Chorus sung to ‘oo’ 2x with names of places where trees are grown spoken:
Castle Craggs, Niddrie Mill Crescent,
Whin’s Place, Pitville Street,
Nantwich Drive, Campie School,
Hay Drive, Stanley Street,
Craigentinny Primary School.

Lee Crescent, Bellfield Street
Seagrove Centre, Dalkeith Street,
Porty Town Hall, Bingham Park,
Finlay Gardens, Abercorn Terrace,
Northfield Community Garden.

6. I’m East Lothian Pippin in Joppa Park,
I’ve more fruit year on year
For the cakes, and crumbles, pies and tarts
To feed folk living here
To feed all folk living here
Chorus

7. I’m a Cox’s Pomona by St Marks
Come rest upon my seat
And remember that the winter turns
Again to fruit so sweet
Turns again to fruit so sweet
Chorus

Outro:
Blossom to blossom, tree to tree
Follow the trail of bees
Weaving between suburban trees
In pockets of land by the sea

All parts: