Why this dole­ful wail of sad­ness,
Every year, ev­ery year?
Undertoning all our glad­ness,
Every year, ev­ery year?
Why at fleet­ing years so fret­ful,
Of the dead past so re­gret­ful,
Of the liv­ing now for­get­ful,
Every year, ev­ery year?

Is not God in wis­dom guid­ing
Every year, ev­ery year?
Though to us His pur­pose hid­ing,
Every year, ev­ery year?
Joy there is for ev­ery sor­row,
For each night a bright to­mor­row,
From the past fresh strength we bor­row,
Every year, ev­ery year!

Faith and hope are grow­ing strong­er,
Every year, ev­ery year.
As the trod­den way grows long­er,
Every year, ev­ery year.
Left be­hind the paths most drea­ry,
Passed the doubts that vex and wea­ry,
Brighter gleams the sun­shine cheery,
Every year, ev­ery year!

Fewer cares and light­er bur­dens,
Every year, ev­ery year.
Brighter hopes and tru­er guer­dons,
Every year, ev­ery year.
Earthly joys may fade for­ev­er,
Earthly ties to friends may sev­er,
One there is more dear than ev­er,
Every year, ev­ery year!

And the Fa­ther’s house is dear­er,
Every year, ev­ery year.
And our lost ones com­ing near­er,
Every year, ev­ery year.
Less is there be­low to charm us,
Less in grow­ing old to harm us,
Less do un­known days al­arm us
Every year, ev­ery year!

Let us cease then our re­pin­ing,
Every year, ev­ery year.
And be­lieve the Love o’er­shin­ing,
Every year, ev­ery year.
Nights be­hind us now for­get­ting,
Onward press with­out re­gret­ting,
To the morn that knows no set­ting,
Blest New Year! Blest New Year!