A New Year Carol Lyrics - Benjamin Britten

Song Facts:

• Genre: Classical


• Composer: Benjamin Britten


• Featured in the soundtrack for the film "Challengers"

Artist Info:

Benjamin Britten was a leading figure in twentieth-century British classical music, renowned for his operas and instrumental works. His compositions are known for their distinctive melody and expert orchestration. Britten's music often reflects his interests in literature and his personal beliefs, including pacifism. He played a crucial role in the revival of British opera and is celebrated for major works like "Peter Grimes" and "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra." His compositions explore complex social and psychological themes and have the unique ability to resonate with contemporary audiences through the setting of both modern and traditional texts.

Annotations and Meaning:

"A New Year Carol" by Benjamin Britten, set to a traditional English carol, celebrates the New Year with symbolism and ceremonial optimism. The song uses the metaphor of drawing fresh water from a well to signify renewal and purification as the New Year begins. The lyrics, "Here we bring new water from the well so clear, For to worship God with, this happy New Year", encapsulate this theme of renewal.
The recurring lines, "Sing levy dew, sing levy dew, the water and the wine; The seven bright gold wires and the bugles that do shine", introduce elements of festivity and sacredness. The mention of "water and the wine" suggests a ritualistic offering, possibly alluding to themes of transformation and blessing typical in New Year celebrations. The reference to "the seven bright gold wires" invokes cultural and religious symbolism associated with the number seven, often representing completeness and perfection.

The invitation to "Open you the West Door, and turn the Old Year go" and "Open you the East Door, and let the New Year in" metaphorically addresses the closing of past chapters and the welcoming of new beginnings. This act of opening doors in different directions highlights the cyclical nature of time and the human desire to manage the passage of time through ritual, emphasizing renewal and hopeful anticipation for the future.