The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #116151   Message #2492090
Posted By: Newport Boy
12-Nov-08 - 04:00 PM
Thread Name: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
Definitely in the traditional 'spirit' of the season is All Hail to the Days also known as Drive the Cold Winter Away.

The earliest copy of the words is from a broadside in the Pepys collection, about 1625, and the tune in Playford 1691.

The full 12 verses are at Hymns & Carols of Christmas here

I usually sing verses 1,3,4,5 and 11, sometimes adding verse 7. The tune in Hutchins (from that page) is the better version. The big jump at the end of the 6th line is a bit intimidating at first, but it soon becomes familiar.

I've sung it unaccompanied, with minimal guitar and with guitar and recorder, and it seems to go down well.