English Folk-Carols/New Year's Carol

by anon

For works with similar titles, see New Year's Carol.

XX.⁠NEW YEAR'S CAROL.

NEW YEAR'S CAROL.

1⁠Awake! Awake! ye drowsy souls
And hear what I shall tell;
Remember Christ, the Lamb of God,
Redeemed our souls from hell.
He's crowned with thorns, spit on with scorn,
The Jews have hid themselves.
So God send you all a joyful New Year.

2⁠They bound Christ's body to a tree,
And wounded Him full sore;
From every wound the blood ran down
Till Christ could bleed no more;
His dying wounds, all rent and tore,
Were covered with pearly gore.
So God send you all a joyful New Year.

3⁠And when the Jews had murdered Christ
And shown their cruel spite,
The sun and moon did hide their heads
And went in mourning straight.
The heavens stood amazed, and angels gazed,
And the earth it was darkened quite.
So God send you all a joyful New Year.

4⁠And when Christ's soul departed
And from His body fled,
The rocks did rend, the graves did ope
And then appeared the dead;
All they that were there did quake for fear
And said it was the Son of God.
So God send you all a joyful New Year.

5⁠Then Christ He called Thomas
And bid him: Come and see,
And put thy fingers in the wounds
That are in my body;
And be not faithless, but believe,
And happy shalt thou be.
So God send you all a joyful New Year.

6⁠Then Christ called His disciples
And tried them over death
And said: All powers are given to you
In heaven and on earth;
Go forth and teach all nations
Despise you not my death.^[1]
So God send you all a joyful New Year.

7⁠Go seek you every wandering sheep
That doth on earth remain,
Till I myself have paid your debts
And turned you back again;
Come all ye heavy laden,
I'll ease you of your pain.
So God send you all a joyful New Year.

8⁠It was early in one morning
That Mary did Him seek;
She saw two angels sitting
At Jesus's head and feet.
Mary shed tears while Christ appeared,
And He said: Why dost thou weep?
So God send you all a joyful New Year.

9⁠God bless the ruler of this house
And send him long to reign;
Let many a happy New Year
Go over his head again,
And all his godly family
That serveth the Lord so dear.
So God send you all a joyful New Year.

10⁠God bless the mistress of this house,
With gold all round her breast,
And, let her body be asleep or awake,
Lord send her soul to rest,
And all her godly family
That serveth the Lord so dear.
So God send you all a joyful New Year.

1. Mr. Bates sang "Despising you of your rest."