full of drink and full of meat,
on our saviour’s natal day,
charity’s perennial treat;
thus i heard a pauper say:—
“ought not i to dance and sing
thus supplied with famous cheer?
heigho!
i hardly know —
christmas comes but once a year.
“after labor’s long turmoil,
sorry fare and frequent fast,
two-and-fifty weeks of toil,
pudding-time is come at last!
but are raisins high or low,
flour and suet cheap or dear?
heigho!
i hardly know —
christmas comes but once a year.
“fed upon the coarsest fare
three hundred days and sixty-four,
but for one on viands rare,
just as if i wasn’t poor!
ought not i to bless my stars,
warden, clerk, and overseer?
heigho!
i hardly know —
christmas comes but once a year.
“treated like a welcome guest,
one of nature’s social chain,
seated, tended on, and press’d —
but when shall i be press’d again,
twice to pudding, thrice to beef,
a dozen times to ale and beer?
heigho!
i hardly know —
christmas comes but once a year.
“come to-morrow how it will;
diet scant and usage rough,
hunger once has had its fill,
thirst for once has had enough,
but shall i ever dine again?
or see another feast appear?
heigho!
i only know —
christmas comes but once a year!
“frozen cares begin to melt,
hopes revive and spirits flow —
feeling as i have not felt
since a dozen months ago —
glad enough to sing a song —
to-morrow shall i volunteer?
heigho!
i hardly know —
christmas comes but once a year.
“bright and blessed is the time,
sorrows end and joys begin,
while the bells with merry chime
ring the day of plenty in!
but the happy tide to hail,
with a sigh or with or a tear,
heigho!
i hardly know —
christmas comes but once a year!”