New Year In My Youth

by Robert (Bob) Moore © 2015 When I was just a lad, and the New Year came around We’d sing and dance and party, till midnight bells did sound my hair was dark in those days, so First Footer was my chore and just before the midnight peal, Mam shoved me out the back door With coin in my pocket, coal and bread in hand I’d run round to the front door, and in the cold I’d stand waiting till the voices singing Auld Lang Syne I’d hear then I’d know the time was right for First Footer to appear All standing in a circle, arms crossed and holding hands move toward the centre, something done in many lands gie’ us your hand my trusted friend, and here’s a hand o’ mine we’ll drink a cup of kindness yet, for the sake of Auld Langs Syne I’d give my dad the silver, to prosper through the year I’d give the bread to Mam, so food was always here the coal went in the fireplace, to keep away the cold and bless our home with happiness, and love worth more than gold We’d make our resolutions, but none of them we’d keep I’d be nicer to my sisters, and would not make them weep but that did not happen, and they knew it never would but just the same, our life and times were good