Heap on more wood! The wind is chill.
Walter Scott
Heap on more wood! The wind is chill;
But let it whistle as it will,
We’ll keep our Christmas merry still.
We’ll keep our Christmas merry still.
Each age has deemed the new-born year
The fittest time for festal cheer;
And well our Christian sires of old
Loved when the year its course had rolled.
On Christmas Eve the bells were rung;
On Christmas Eve the Mass was sung;
The only night in all the year
Saw the stoled priest the chalice rear.
The damsel donned her kirtle sheen;
The hall was dressed with holly green;
Forth to the wood did merry men go
To gather in the miseltoe.
Then opened wide the baron’s hall
To vassal, tenant, serf and all;
Power laid his rod of rule aside
And ceremony doffed his pride.
All hailed, with uncontrolled delight
And general voice, the happy night,
That to the cottage, as the crown,
Brought tidings of salvation down.
The fire, with well-dried logs supplied,
Went roaring up the chimney wide;
The huge hall table’s oaken face,
Scrubbed till it shone, the day to grace,
Bore then upon its massive board
No mark to part the squire and lord.
Then the grim boar’s head frowned on high,
Crested with bays and rosemary.
The wassel round, in good brown bowls,
Garnished with ribbons, blithely trowls;
There the huge sirloin reeked; hard by
Plum porridge stood, and Christmas pie.
Then came the merry masquers in,
And carols roared with blithesome din;
If unmelodious was the song,
It was a hearty note and strong.
Alba was Merry Scotland when
Old Christmas brought his sport agen;
‘Twas Christmas broach'd the mightiest ale;
‘Twas Christmas told the merriest tale;
A Christmas gambol oft would cheer
The poor man’s heart through half the year.
Alba was Merry Scotland when
Old Christmas brought his sport agen.
Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832)
Tune: "Corn Rigs"
Scots Dictionary
Let's Sing!
(Index of Scots Songs)
Let's Dance!
(Index of Scottish Dance Music)
Our Main Site
<
