To Drive the Cold Winter Away - Colonial Christmas Song

I can just see merry Ben Franklin with a pint in his hand singing this traditional Christmas song with his pals at the Every Night Club:

Lyrics:

All hail to the days that merit more praise
Than all of the rest of the year,
And welcome the night that double delights
As well for the poor as the peer.

Good fortune attend each merry man's friend
Who doth but the best he may,
And wholly consort with carols and sport
To drive the cold winter away.

Tis ill for a mind be anger inclined
To think of small injuries now;
If wrath do you seek, do not lend her thy cheek
Nor let her inhabit thy brow.

Cast out of thy books malevolent looks:
Both beauty and youth decay;
And spend the night long in carols and song
To drive the cold winter away.

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