The Old Year Now Away is Fled
A delightful Christmastide ballad meant to be sung
to the ever-popular Greensleeves.
The Old Year Now Away is Fled
A Carol for New Year's Day, to the tune of Green
Sleeves
The old year now away is fled, the new year
it is entered;
Then let us all 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 us a merry new year!
And now with new year's gifts each friend
unto each other they do send;
God grant we may our lives amend, and that
truth may now 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 goo cheer.
I thank my master and my dame, the which
are founders of the same,
To eat and drink now is no shame -- God send
you a happy 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 you shall not lack,
'twill whet my brains and strengthen my back
This jolly good cheer it must go to wrack
-- God send us a happy new year!
Come give us good liquor when I do call,
I'll drink to each one in this hall,
I hope that loud I must not bawl, so unto
me lend an ear.
Good fortune to my master send, and to our
dame which is our friend,
God bless us all, and so I end -- God send
us a happy new year!
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