Digital Tradition Mirror

Carol for New Years Day

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Carol for New Years Day

The old year now away is fled
The new year now is entered;
Then let us now our sins down tread
     And joyfully all appear.
Let's merry be this holiday
And let us run with sport and play
Hang sorrow, let's cast care away
     God send you a happy new year.

And now, with new years gifts, each friend
Unto each other they do send;
God grant we may our lives amend
     And that the truth may appear.
Now like the snake cast off your skin
Of evil thoughts and wicked sin,
And to amend this new year begin
     God send us a merry new year.

And now let all the company
In friendly manner all agree,
For we are here welcome all may see
     Unto this jolly good cheer.
I think my master and my dame
The which are founders of the same,
To eat, to drink now is no shame --
     God send us a merry new year.

Come lads and lasses, every one,
Jack, Tom, Dick, Bess, Mary and Joan,
Let's cut the meat unto the bone
     For welcome you need not fear.
And here for good liquor we shall not lack
It will whet my brains and strengthen my back,
This jolly good cheer it must go to wrack
     God send us a merry new year.

Come, give us more liquor when I do call,
I'll drink to each one in this hall,
I hope so loud I must not bawl,
     But unto me lend an ear.
Good fortune to my master send
And to my dame which is our friend
God bless us all, and so I end---
     And God send us a happy new year.

From Chappell, Popular Music of the Olden Time.
Printed in 1642
RG

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!