What cheer? What cheer?
Good cheer! Good cheer!
Be merry and glad this good New Year!
Lift up your hearts and be glad
In Christ’s birth,’ the angel bade.
‘Say each to other, if any be sad:
What cheer?’
Now the King of heav’n his birth hath take,
Joy and mirth we ought to make;
Say each to other, for his sake:
‘What cheer?’
I tell you all with heart so free:
Right welcome, welcome ye be to me;
Be glad and merry, for charity!
What cheer?
Music by William Walton
Lyrics (from Richard Hill’s Commonplace Book, early 16th century)
