"Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind", set to music by John Rutter. Words are from Shakespeare's As You Like It, Act 2, Scene 7.
Original Text
Modern English
Blow, blow, thou winter wind.
Blow, blow, winter wind.
Thou art not so unkind
You aren't as harsh
As man's ingratitude.
As men's ingratitude.
Thy tooth is not so keen,
Your teeth aren't as sharp,
Because thou art not seen,
As you are invisible,
Although thy breath
Even though your breath
be rude.
is an assault.
Heigh-ho, sing heigh-ho,
Heigh-ho! Sing, heigh-ho!
unto the green holly.
Sing to the green holly.
Most friendship is feigning,
Most friendship is false,
most loving mere folly.
most love simply foolishness.
Then heigh-ho, the holly.
Then heigh-ho, to the holly.
This life is most jolly.
This life is really jolly.
Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,
Freeze, freeze, you bitter sky,
That dost not bite so nigh
Your bite isn't as painful
As benefits forgot.
As when good deeds are forgotten.
Though thou the waters warp,
Even though you can freeze water
Thy sting is not so sharp
Your sting is not as sharp
As friend remembered not.
As the friend who is forgotten.
Heigh-ho, sing heigh-ho,
Heigh-ho! Sing, heigh-ho!
unto the green holly.
Sing to the green holly.
Most friendship is feigning,
Most friendship is false,
most loving mere folly.
most love simply foolishness.
Then heigh-ho, the holly.
Then heigh-ho, to the holly.
This life is most jolly.
This life is really jolly.
