Sumer Is Icumen In is a traditional English round, and possibly the oldest example of counterpoint in existence. It is the oldest piece of six-part polyphonic music (Albright, 1994). The title might be translated as "Summer is a-coming in". Its composer is anonymous and it is estimated to date from around 1260. The language is Middle English.

Original Words:

Sumer is icumen in,

Lhude sing cuccu!

Groweth sed and bloweth med

And springth the wude nu,

Sing cuccu!

Awe bletheth after lomb,

Lhouth after calve cu.

Bulloc sterteth, bucke verteth,

Murie sing cuccu!

Cuccu, cuccu, wel singes thu, cuccu;

Ne swik thu naver nu,

Sing cuccu nu. Sing cuccu.

Sing cuccu. Sing cuccu nu!

Modern English:

Summer is a-coming in,

Loud sing Cuckoo!

Seeds grow and meadows bloom

And the forest springs anew,

Sing Cuckoo!

Ewes bleat after lambs,

Cows lowe after the calves.

Bullocks jump, bucks fart,

Merrily sing Cuckoo!

Cuckoo, cuckoo, well you sing, cuckoo;

Nor cease you ever now,

Sing cuckoo now. Sing Cuckoo.

Sing Cuckoo. Sing cuckoo now!

Source

• Albright, Daniel (2004). Modernism and Music: An Anthology of Sources. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0226012670.