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Down with the rosemary and bay, |
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Down with the mistletoe, |
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Instead of holly, now up-raise |
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The greener box, to show |
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The greener box to show. |
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[Chorus:] |
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Thus times do shift, thus times do shift, |
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Each thing it's time doth hold, |
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New things succeed, new things succeed, |
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As former things grow old. |
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The holly hitherto did sway, |
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Let box now domineer, |
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Until the dancing Easter day, |
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On Easter's eve appear, |
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On Easter's eve appear. |
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[Chorus] |
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The youthful box which now hath grace, |
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Your houses to renew, |
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Grown old, surrender must it's place, |
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Unto the freshened yew, |
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Unto the freshened yew. |
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[Chorus] |
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When yew is out, then birch comes in |
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And many the flowers beside, |
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Both of a fresh and fragrant kin, |
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To honour Whitsuntide, |
|
To honour Whitsuntide. |
|
[Chorus] |
