Words: English Traditional, Before 1536

Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), pp. 219-220.

What cheer? Good cheer! Good cheer! Good Cheer!
Be merry and glad this good New Year.

1. Lift up your heartës and be glad!
    In Christës birth the angel bade;
    Say each to other, if any be sad:
What cheer? Good cheer! Good cheer! Good Cheer!
Be merry and glad this good New Year.

2. Now the King of heaven His birth hath take,
    Joy and mirth we ought to make!
    Say each to other, for his sake:
What cheer? Good cheer! Good cheer! Good Cheer!
Be merry and glad this good New Year.

3. I tell you all with heart so free,
    Right welcome ye be (all) to me.
    Be glad and merry for charity!
What cheer? Good cheer! Good cheer! Good Cheer!
Be merry and glad this good New Year.

4. The goodman of this place in fere¹
    You to be merry he prayeth you here;
    And with good heart he doth to you say:
What cheer? Good cheer! Good cheer! Good Cheer!
Be merry and glad this good New Year.

Note:

1. Company. Return