Happy New Year

The Bellman's Good-Morrow

From sluggish sleep and slumber
     good Christians all arise
for Christ his sake I pray you
     lift up your drowsy eyes
The night of shame and sorrow
     is parting clean away
God give you all good morrow
     and send you happy day

from all the rage of wickedness
     look that you strip you quite
in garments of true godliness
     see that your selves be dight
Shake off all shame and sorrow
     which doth your souls destroy
God give you all good morrow
     and send you happy day

And being thus attired
     you may in peace proceed
Unto the heavenly table
     of Christ our lord indeed
Where neither same nor sorrow
     shall you in aught annoy
God give you all good morrow
     and send you happy day

Then looke your lamps be ready
     and that with oil of store
to wait upon the bridegroom
     even at his Chamber door
Where neither shame nor sorrow
     shall you in aught annoy
God give you all good morrow
     and send you happy day

Then shall you rest in blessedness
     which never shall have end
enjoying Christ his presence
     our sweet and surest friend
where neither shame nor sorro
     shall you in aught annoy
God give you all good morrow:
    and send you happy day

Thus with my bell, and lantern
     I bid you all farewell
and keep in your remembrance
     the sounding of my bell
lest that with sin and sorrow
     you do yourselves destroy
God give you all good morrow
     & send you happy joy.                                             Anonymous, 16th Century