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

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

When old Christmastide comes in like a bride
With ivy and green holly clad
Twelve days in the year, much might and good cheer
In every household is had
The countryman's guise is then to devise
Some gambols of Christmas play
When every young man does the best that he can
To drive the cold winter away

words and music traditional

© 1997 Raven Boy Music