The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #14044   Message #3588154
Posted By: GUEST,Jeanne
01-Jan-14 - 01:08 PM
Thread Name: Greensleeves tune in New Year song
Subject: RE: Greensleeves tune in New Year song
None of the versions linked here are exactly the same as the original 1642 version -- I'm looking at the file now. Chappell, Bullen, and the Oxford Book of Carols all have variations in text, spelling, punctuation, etc. Here is it from the scan, albeit without italicization or font changes, but all of the variations in spelling and punctuation -- enjoy!

Good and True,
Fresh and New
Christmas Carols
(...)
Printed at London by E. P. for Francis Coles,
dwelling in the Old-Baily. 1642.

(ninth carol of twelve)

A Caroll for New-yeares day.
To the tune of, Greene Sleeves.

The old yeare now away is fled,
The new yeare it is entered,
Then let us now our sins downe tread,
and ioyfully all appeare,
Let s merry be this Holyday,
And let us now both sport and play,
Hang sorrow, let's cast care away,
God send you a happy new yeare.

For Christs Circumcision this day we keepe,
Who for our sins did often weepe,
His hands and feet were wounded deepe,
and his blessed side with a Speare,
His head they crowned then with Thorne,
And at him they did laugh and scorne,
Who for to save our Soules was borne,
God send us a merry new yeare.

And now with New=yeares Gifts each Friend,
Unto each other they doe send,
God grant we may all our lives amend,
and that the truth may appeare ;
Now like the Snake cast off your skin
Of evill thoughts and wicked sin,
And to amend this new yeare begin.
God send us a merry new yeare.

And now let all the company
In friendly manner all agree,
For we are here welcome all may see,
unto this iolly good cheere ;
I thanke my Master and my Dame,
The which are founders of the same,
To eate to drinke now is no shame,
God send us a merry new yeare.

Come Lads and Lasses every one,
Jack, Tom, Dick, Besse, Mary and Ione,
Lets cut the meate up unto the bone,
for welcome you need not feare,
And here for good liquor we shall not lack,
It will whet my braines + strengthen my back
This ioylly good cheere it must goe to wrack,
God send us a merry new yeare.

Come give's more liquor when I doe call,
Ile dunke to each one in this Hall,
I hope that so loud I must not baule,
but unto me lend an eare ;
Good fortune to my master send,
And to my dame which is our friend,
Lord blesse us all, and so I end,
and God send us a happy new yeare.