Good-bye, Old Year, the hours are swiftly flying;
The night has come at last and thou art dying.
Doth no repentance, no remorse assail thee,
As far and wide the wintry winds bewail thee?
Good-bye, good-bye.
Good-bye, Old Year; thou hast been most unkindly
To one who welcomed thee so fondly, blindly;
Who gave thee largess as a royal guest;
Whose trust thou didst betray with wild unrest.
Good-bye, good-bye.
Good-bye, Old Year who came in clouds of glory;
Thy breath upon my locks has left them hoary;
Thy lips were chill and filled me with alarms;
My roses faded in thy clasping arms.
Good-bye, good-bye.
Good-bye, Old Year; thy cruel hand, relentless,
Robbed memory of joy and made it Icentiess;
The wine of love poured from a shattered glass,
In blood-red drops upon a mound of grass.
Good-bye, good-bye.
Good-bye, Old Year. And now, since thou must leave me,
Wouldst sue for pardon wherein thou didst grieve me?
Restore sweet trust, make whole the broken heart,
And from remembrance pluck the poisoned dart; -
No answer - ruthless Year;
Good-bye, good-bye.