CHRISTMAS SONG

The trees are all bare not a leaf to be seen
And the meadows their beauty have lost.
Now winter has come and 'tis cold for man and beast,
And the streams they are,
And the streams they are all fast bound down with frost.

'Twas down in the farmyard where the oxen feed on straw,
They send forth their breath like the steam.
Sweet Betsy the milkmaid now quickly she must go,
For flakes of ice she finds,
For flakes of ice she finds a-floating on her cream.

'Tis now all the small birds to the barn-door fly for food
And gently they rest on the spray.
A-down the plantation the hares do search for food,
And lift their footsteps sure,
Lift their footsteps sure for fear they do betray?

Now Christmas is come and our song is almost done
For we soon shall Eave the turn of the year.
So fill up your glasses and let your health go round,
For I wish you all,
For I wish you all a joyful New Year.

Source: A Song for Every Season, by Bob Copper (published in 1975 by Paladin, pp 202-203)

https://mudcat.org/midi/midifiles/TreesAreAllBare.mid

Copper Family recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcV1N4i4PEk&t=8348s

Coope, Boyes, & Simpson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKDlPa-6yy4

Recording by Magpie Lane: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2AvSJ95pw8