To Drive The Cold Winter Away

Words and Music: Traditional
Arranged and Adapted by: Jillian LaDage

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 he may
Forgetting old wrongs with carols and songs
To drive the cold winter away

'Tis ill for the 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 thy books malevolent looks both beauty and youths 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 neighbors 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