Today I sang one hymn at the meeting with my friends, “The Old Year Now Away Has Fled”.
The hymn’s melody is “Green Sleeves”.
I have loved this melody very much since I was a child and I can play only this melody on piano.
But I have not known this melody had the lyrics of hymn.
I think this lyrics is also very good.
“The Old Year Now Away Has Fled” (Green Sleeves)
The Old Year Now Away is Fled
A Carol for New Year's Day, to the tune of Green Sleeves
The old year now away is fled, the new year it is entered;
Then let us all our sins down tread, and joyfully all appear.
Let's merry be this holiday, and let us run with sport and play,
Hang sorrow, let's cast care away -- God send us a merry new year!
And now with new year's gifts each friend unto each other they do send;
God grant we may our lives amend, and that truth may now appear.
Now like the snake cast off your skin of evil thoughts and wicked sin,
And to amend this new year begin -- God send us a merry new year!
And now let all the company in friendly manner all agree,
For we are here welcome all may see unto this jolly goo cheer.
I thank my master and my dame, the which are founders of the same,
To eat and drink now is no shame -- God send you a happy new year!
Come lads and lasses every one, Jack, Tom, Dick, Bess, Mary and Joan,
Let's cut the meat unto the bone, for welcome you need not fear.
And here for good liquor you shall not lack, 'twill whet my brains and strengthen my back
This jolly good cheer it must go to wrack -- God send us a happy new year!
Come give us good liquor when I do call, I'll drink to each one in this hall,
I hope that loud I must not bawl, so unto me lend an ear.
Good fortune to my master send, and to our dame which is our friend,
God bless us all, and so I end -- God send us a happy new year!
「古いものはみな」（グリーンスリーヴス） 讃美歌第二編152番
古いものはみな うしろに過ぎ去り
よろこびの歌が 聞こえてくる。
山も海も ゆたかにかがやき
めぐみあふれよ、新しい年。
わたしらの罪を みな身にひきうけ
十字架のうえで 死なれた主よ、
主の名づけの その日もちかづき
めぐみあふれよ、新しい年。
殻を脱ぐように わたしらもいまは
思いわずらいを ぬぎすてよう。
愛がやどり、胸はさわやかに
めぐみあふれよ、新しい年。
