To hear the music (without words), go to Now is the month of Maying and click on "Complete midi files: Now is the Month of Maying."EXPLANATION OF THE GLOSSING SYSTEM
(to understand how I describe the signs in this translation).
1. NOW CELEBRATE MONTH M-A-Y.
HAPPY BOY KISS-FIRST PLAY.
Refrain: [silent during all fa-la-la's]
JOIN PRETTY GIRL THERE,
TWO-OF-THEM DANCE ON GRASS. Refrain
2. SPRING IDEA~LIKE PERSON DRESSED-UP HAPPY.
GO-AHEAD LAUGH. WINTER GONE. Refrain
BAGPIPE SOUND"pow"+,
NATURE GODDESS GET-AROUND. Refrain
3. WHY TIME WASTE, SIT-AROUND DO-NOTHING?
WE YOUNG SHOULD THROW-OUT-CAUTION. Refrain
TELL-me PRETTY NATURE GODDESS,
SHOULD WE PLAY-AROUND TOGETHER? Refrain
Notes: THERE - Underlined words are honorific indices ("indexes"), using the FT of the upturned palm to indicate who is being honored.
IDEA~LIKE - a blending where IDEA has a [Y] instead of an [I] in anticipation of LIKE which is signed smoothly right afterwards.
DRESSED-UP - (2h)[5], POs down, FOs away, alt. circle perpendicular to the chest with thumbs brushing against chest as they pass.
GO-AHEAD - (2h)[B^ dot], POs ><, FOs away, move forward in a jerk.
BAGPIPE - Hands play the mouthpiece like a flute vertical to the body, and DH swivels towards and away from side as if squeezing air out of the bag.
SOUND"pow"+ - Touch ear with index finger then (2h)[S], PO down, FO away, move antisymmetrically from side to side while mouthing "pow". For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see ASL browser - thunder.
GODDESS - GIRL (single movement) blends immediately into GOD>
GET-AROUND - (2h)[1] circle around each other with DH above NDH>
SIT-AROUND - Hands in the final positioin of sit, circle vertically, normal (perpendicular) to the chest.
DO-NOTHING - DH strokes at ear and NDH strokes at mouth.
THROW-OUT-CAUTION - (2h)[1] point to ears, then hands move forward and open to (2h)[5], PO > back of signer, FOs up, with brr.
PLAY-AROUND - [1], PO down, FO diagonally away, moves in a wavy patter travelling under the NDH [B], PO down, FO away.
Lyrics:
1. Now is the month of maying,
When merry lads are playing,
Refrain: Fa la la la la la la la la, fa la la la la la la.
Each with his bonny lass
A dancing on the grass
[or Upon the greeny grass]. Refrain
2. The Spring, clad all in gladness,
Doth laugh at Winter's sadness, Refrain
And to the bagpipe's sound
The nymphs tread out their ground. Refrain
3. Fie then! why sit we musing,
Youth's sweet delight refusing? Refrain
Say, dainty nymphs, and speak,
Shall we play at barley-break? Refrain
To hear the music (without words), go to Now is the month of Maying and click on "Complete midi files: Now is the Month of Maying."
