The Old Year [JOHN CLARE poem set to music]

The Old Year (John Clare)
C G
The Old Year's gone away
F C
To nothingness and night:
Dm Em
We cannot find him all the day
F G
Nor hear him in the night:
Am C G F
He left no footstep, mark or place
Em Dm Am
In either shade or sun:
B7
The last year he'd a neighbour's face,
C G B7
In this he's known by none.
All nothing everywhere:
Mists we on mornings see
Have more of substance when they're here
And more of form than he.
He was a friend by every fire,
In every cot and hall -
A guest to every heart's desire,
And now he's nought at all.
Am Em
Old papers thrown away,
F Em
Old garments cast aside,
C D Am
The talk of yesterday,
E7 C Dm
All things identified;
B7
But times once torn away
Eb Bb Eb Gm
No voices can recall:
Cm Gm
The eve of New Year's Day
F Cm D7 Gm
Left the Old Year lost to all.
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