Drive The Cold Winter Away

  1. Martin Jonas
    Martin Jonas
    Here is a seasonal tune I've just recorded on my Ozark tenor guitar.

    This is an English country dance tune from the first edition of The English Dancing Master published by John Playford in 1651. The tune is widely played as a Christmas carol, with words collected in the Roxburgh collection of ballads, which appear to date from before the Playford publication. Alternative titles are "In Praise of Christmas" and "All Hail to The Days".

    I'm playing this on my Ozark tenor guitar, with three overdubbed voices, plus rhythm guitar, in an arrangement from the SCA dance web site of Steve Hendricks:

    Link to PDF

    I had originally overdubbed a mandolin lead over the second verse, but in the end decided it sounded nicer with just the tenor guitar, so left the mandolin off.

    The original broadsides of this song have 12 verses, of which these four are most frequently sung:

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.



    Martin
  2. John Kelly
    John Kelly
    Great sound there, Martin, and lovely visual background.
  3. Charles E.
    Charles E.
    Martin, that was very nice. Have a good New Year.
Results 1 to 3 of 3