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Drive Dull Care Away

from The Gift by Clary Croft

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lyrics

Drive Dull Care Away

Traditional: Edward D. Ives Collection.

Dr. Edward D. [Sandy] Ives collected this song in 1958 from the singing of Charles Gorman, Prince Edward Island. Sandy’s research notes in his wonderful book of Island songs called “Drive Dull Care Away”, tell us the song goes back to at least 1775 and a variant is also found in the 1844 shape note song book, “The Sacred Harp”.

Oh why should we at our lot complain
Or grieve at our distress?
Some think if they could riches gain
‘Twould be true happiness.
But alas how vain is all our strife,
Life’s cares it will not allay,
And while we’re here with our friends so dear
We’ll drive dull care away.
Away, away, away, away -
We will drive dull care away!
And while we’re here with our friends so dear
We’ll drive dull care away.

Why should the rich despise the poor,
Why should the poor repine?
For we will all in a few short years
In equal friendship join.
They’re both to blame, they’re all the same;
We are all made of one clay,
And while we’re here with our friends so dear
We’ll drive dull care away.

The only circumstance in life
That ever I could find,
To conquer fear and temper strife
Was a contented mind.
With this in store we’ve so much more,
Than all things will convey,
And while we’re here with our friends so dear
We’ll drive dull care away.

Then let us make the most of life
Not rendering it a curse,
But take it as you take a wife,
For better or for worse.
Life at its best is but a jest;
Like a dreary winter’s day,
And while we’re here with our friends so dear
We’ll drive dull care away.

credits

from The Gift, released April 20, 2021

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Clary Croft Nova Scotia

Clary is a folklore researcher, author and recording artist. His newly published memoirs, Clary Croft: My Charmed Life in Music, Art, and Folklore, chronicles a career spanning over fifty years. His work with the traditional music from the Creighton Collection, has caused Clary to be called, “the acknowledged master of one of the richest repertoires in Canada.” [Halifax Mail Star] ... more

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