Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Blow, blow thou winter wind (When Icicles Hang) - John Rutter, Cambridge...

The album cover shown is not where I know this song from. I have it on Candlelight: Seasonal Reflections and Celebrations. Such a beautiful song for the season. There are some notes in the "heigh-ho" verse that make me think of the Call The Midwife theme. The title comes from a Shakespeare poem in Love's Labor's Lost.

When Icicles Hang: 1V. Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind by John Rutter 

Blow, blow thou winter wind,
Blow, blow thou winter wind, 
Thou art not so unkind, 
As man's ingratitude, 
As man's ingratitude, 

Thy tooth is not so keen, 
Because thou art not seen, 
Although thy breath be rude, 
Although thy breath be rude, 

Heigh-ho! Sing heigh-ho! unto the green holly; 
Most friendship is feinging, most loving mere folly:
Then heigh-ho, the holly! This life is most jolly. 

Freeze, freeze thou bitter sky, 
Freeze, freeze thou bitter sky, 
That does not bite so nigh 
As benefits forgot, 
As benefits forgot, 

Thou the waters warp, 
Thou sting is not so sharp 
As friend remembered not 
As friend remembered not

Heigh-ho! Sing heigh-ho! unto the green holly; 
Most friendship is feinging, most loving mere folly: 
Then heigh-ho, the holly! This life is most jolly.