Traditional English (eighteenth century)





Recorded at Church of Our Lady, Guelph

Lroeena McKennitt: vocals, harp, accordion

Shannon Purves-Smith: Viols





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 your 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 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 comes 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.