Song of the Day - 1st April

Happy April! The 1st of April is of course April's Fools Day. I have seen several funnies this morning, ranging from firefighters fast-responding on bikes fitted with 50ft hoses, to a helter skelter being fitted around Blackpool Tower.

Although many theories have been proposed, the exact origin of April Fools' Day is not known.

A disputed association between 1st April and foolishness is in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales (1392). In 1508, French poet Eloy d'Amerval referred to a poisson d'avril (April fool, literally "April's fish"), possibly the first reference to the celebration in France. In Italy, France, Belgium and French-speaking areas of Switzerland and Canada, the 1st April tradition is  still often known as "April fish".

There is also an unambiguous reference to April Fools' Day in a 1561 poem by Flemish poet Eduard de Dene of a nobleman who sent his servant on foolish errands on 1st April.

The poem I have set to celebrate this day is called "An April Fool Of Long Ago" by Canadian journalist, author and poet Jean Blewett (1862-1934). It tells the story of an old lonely widower  - the titular April Fool - who fools himself that a young beautiful woman loves him, when really she loves his son.

Get the music for this song for free - find out how here.

An April Fool Of Long Ago.

By Jean Blewett

In powdered wig and buckled shoe,

Knee-breeches, coat and waistcoat gay,

The wealthy squire rode forth to woo

Upon a first of April day.

He would forget his lofty birth,

His spreading acres, and his pride,

And Betty, fairest maid on earth,

Should be his own - his grateful bride.

The maid was young, and he was old;

The maid was good to look upon.

Naught cared she for his land or gold,

Her love was for the good squire's son.

He found her as the noonday hush

Lay on the world, and called her name.

She looked up, conscious, and her blush

A tender interest did proclaim.

For he was Hubert's sire, and she

To keep a secret tryst did go.

He said: "Methinks she cares for me" -

That April fool of long ago.

The flattered squire his suit did press

Without delay. "Say, wilt thou come,"

He said, with pompous tenderness,

"And share my wealth and grace my home?"

"Kind sir," the lovely Betty cried,

"I'm but a lass of low degree."

"The love that is controlled by pride

Is not true love at all," quoth he.

"I hold a man should woo and wed

Where'er he wills - should please himself."

"There is the barrier strong," she said,

"Of pedigree, and place, and pelf.

"Could one so lowly hope to grace

Your home?" Right proud his air and tone:

"You're pure of heart and fair of face;

Dear Betty, you would grace a throne!"

"Since you so highly think of me" -

Her tears and laughter were at strife -

"You will not mind so much, maybe,

That I am Hubert's promised wife."

Pale went the good squire's florid cheek,

His wrath flamed out - but Betty stood,

Brown-haired, red-lipped, blue-eyed and meek,

A sight to make a bad man good.

She won on him. "But why this guile -

This secrecy?" His voice was rough.

"We feared," she whispered, with a smile,

"You would not think me good enough."

"An April fool am I. Come, come -

My offer stands. As Hubert's wife,"

He laughed, "you'll share my wealth and home

And brighten up a lonely life."

He kissed her cheek and rode away.

Unbroken was his heart, I wist,

For he was thinking of a day -

A day back in youth's rosy mist -

And of a form and of a face.

"My dear, dead love," he whispered low,

The while he rode at sober pace,

That April fool of long ago.