[ti:In Praise Of Christmas]
[ar:Loreena McKennitt]
[al:To Drive The Cold Winter Away]

[offset:500]
[00:00.00]Loreena McKennitt - In Praise Of Christmas
[00:50.90]Traditional English, arranged by Loreena McKennitt
[00:55.90]
[01:00.90]All hail to the days that merit more praise
[01:07.94]Than all of the rest of the year,
[01:14.52]And welcome the nights that double delights
[01:21.42]As well for the poor as the peer!
[01:27.87]Good fortune attend each merry man's friend
[01:34.66]That doth but the best that he may,
[01:40.77]Forgetting old wrongs with carols and songs
[01:47.94]To drive the cold winter away.
[01:54.12]
[02:01.28]'Tis ill for a mind to anger inclined
[02:07.49]To think of small injuries now,
[02:13.41]If wrath be to seek, do not lend her thy cheek,
[02:19.54]Nor let her inhabit thy brow.
[02:25.59]Cross out thy books malevolent looks,
[02:32.24]Both beauty and youth's decay,
[02:38.16]And wholly consort with mirth and with sport
[02:44.77]To drive the cold winter away.
[02:51.18]
[03:03.16]This time of the year is spent in good cheer,
[03:09.64]And neighbours together do meet,
[03:15.42]To sit by the fire, with friendly desire,
[03:21.75]Each other in love to greet.
[03:27.44]Old grudges forgot are put in the pot,
[03:33.86]All sorrows aside they lay;
[03:39.89]The old and the young doth carol this song,
[03:46.14]To drive the cold winter away.
[03:52.53]
[04:45.85]When Christmas's tide comes in like a bride,
[04:52.48]With holly and ivy clad,
[04:58.51]Twelve days in the year much mirth and good cheer
[05:05.01]In every household is had.
[05:11.06]The country guise is then to devise
[05:17.49]Some gambols of Christmas play,
[05:23.25]Whereat the young men do best that they can
[05:30.44]To drive the cold winter away.
[05:38.96]
[05:54.77]
[05:58.54]END