Drive The Cold Winter Away

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 do greet
Old grudges forgot, are put in the pot
All sorrows aside they lay
The old and the young doth carol his song
To drive the cold winter away

When white-bearded frost hath threatened his worst
And fallen from branch and brier
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 with content the time we have spent
To drive the cold winter away