To Drive the Cold Winter Away is an English secular-style Christmas carol that seems to date back to the Renaissance.
The song rightly praises the days of Christmas as being the best of the year, and reminds listeners of the charity that binds Catholics especially in this season. During this time of year, many a visit will be had from neighbors, friends, family – sometimes unpleasant ones.
As the song expresses, good will and gentility reigns during this season. Thus, there is no room for sullen, gloomy moods when the Savior of the world was born. This fact alone is a cause for rejoicing, thus we should "spend the long nights in honest delights."
The song also makes mention of "mummers". Mumming, or mummers, was a custom dating back to the 12th century, and would be people that would go around from house to house, often in masks or costumes, singing and making theater plays in return for food. The custom still continues to this day in parts of Europe.
The song is a charming reminder of the spirit of civility, good treatment and courtesy that should reign in Catholic homes, particularly during Christmas.
To Drive the Cold Winter Away is sung here by Owain Phyfe and The New World Renaissance Band. Other interesting renditions
here,
here,
here and a quiet instrumental version
here.
Listen to To Drive The Cold Winter Away
English text:
1. 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.
2. '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.
3. The court in all state now opens her gate
And gives a free welcome to most;
The city likewise, tho' somewhat precise,
Doth willingly part with her roast:
But yet by report from city and court
The country will e'er gain the day;
More liquor is spent and with better content
To drive the cold winter away.
4. Our good gentry there for costs do not spare,
The yeomanry fast not till Lent;
The farmers and such think nothing too much,
If they keep but to pay for their rent.
The poorest of all now do merrily call,
When at a fit place they can stay,
For a song or a tale or a cup of good ale
To drive the cold winter away.
5. Thus none will allow of solitude now
But merrily greets the time,
To make it appear of all the whole year
That this is accounted the prime:
December is seen apparel's in green,
And January fresh as May
Comes dancing along with a cup and a song
To drive the cold winter away.
6. 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 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.
7. To mask and to mum kind neighbours will come
With wassails of nut-brown ale,
To drink and carouse to all in the house
As merry as bucks in the dale;
Where cake, bread, and cheese is brought for your fees
To make you the longer stay;
At the fire to warm 'twill do you no harm,
To drive the cold winter away.
8. When Christmas's tide come 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.
9. When white-bearded frost hath threatened his worse,
And fallen from branch and briar,
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 will content the time we have spend
To drive the cold winter away.
