To Drive the Cold Winter Away (traditional)

All hail to the days that merit more praise Than all the rest of the year, And welcome the nights that double delights As well for the poor as the peer! Good fortune attend each merry man's friend, That doth but the best that he may; Forgetting old wrongs, with carols and songs, To drive the cold winter away.

'Tis ill for a mind to anger inclined To think of small injuries now; If wrath be to seek do not lend her thy cheek Nor let her inhabit thy brow. Cross out of thy books malevolent looks, Both beauty and youth's decay, And wholly consort with mirth and with sport To drive the cold winter away.

This time of the year is spent in good cheer, And neighbours together do meet To sit by the fire, with friendly desire, Each other in love to greet; Old grudges forgot are put in the pot, All sorrows aside they lay; The old and the young doth carol this song To drive the cold winter away.

When Christmas's tide come in like a bride With holly and ivy clad, Twelve days in the year much mirth and good cheer In every household is had; The country guise is then to devise Some gambols of Christmas play, Whereat the young men do best that they can To drive the cold winter away.

When white-bearded frost hath threatened his worse, And fallen from branch and briar, Then time away calls from husbandry halls And from the good countryman's fire, Together to go, to plough and to sow To get us both food and array, And thus will content the time we have spent To drive the cold winter away.

#Englishfolk #folkmusic #Christmassongs