Drive the Cold Winter Away - Traditional

This carol first appeared in print in the early seventeenth century, being found in various notable collections; Playford's "The English Dancing Master", the "Samuel Pepys Collection" and the "Roxburghe Collection". Whilst the music is thought to have come from an earlier era the dance tune ("When Phoebus Did Rest"), the words were first printed as a broadside c.1625. As a carol, the lyrics discuss various seasonal festivities during 'Christmastide'. Alternative titles for the same carol include "In Praise of Christmas" and "All Hail to the Days".