A New Year Carol

This anonymous poem was collected by British novelist and poet Walter de la Mare for the famous anthology Come Hither (1923). The tune was written by British composer Benjamin Britten around 1934. Info on the traditions described in the lyrics can be found here. A musical masterpiece for your New Year's Eve/Day:

A New Year Carol (Benjamin Britten, 1933-35), The Cathedral Quartet, 1992.

Here we bring new water from the well so clear,
For to worship God with, this happy new year;
Sing levy dew, sing levy dew, the water and the wine,
With seven bright gold wires, and bugles that do shine;

Sing reign of fair maid, with gold upon her toe;
Open you the west door and turn the old year go;
Sing levy dew, sing levy dew, the water and the wine,
With seven bright gold wires, and bugles that do shine;

Sing reign of fair maid, with gold upon her chin.
Open you the east door and let the new year in!
Sing levy dew, sing levy dew, the water and the wine,
With seven bright gold wires, and bugles that do shine.

(Words found at http://www.red4.co.uk/ebooks/welshxmas.htm)

Lee