The Twelve Strokes of Midnight

At the first stroke of midnight
I was watching from afar
God’s blessing surrounding the New Year!

At the second stroke of midnight
I was watching from afar
Two happy faces
And God’s blessing surrounding the New Year!

At the third stroke of midnight
I was watching from afar
Three merrymakers,
two happy faces,
And God’s blessing surrounding the New Year!

At the fourth stroke of midnight
I was watching from afar
Four glasses raised,
three merrymakers,
two happy faces,
And God’s blessing surrounding the New Year!

At the fifth stroke of midnight
I was watching from afar
– Five beloved pairs of eyes –
Four glasses raised, three merrymakers, two happy faces,
And God’s blessing surrounding the New Year!

At the sixth stroke of midnight
I was watching from afar
Six jokes misfiring,
– Five beloved pairs of eyes –
Four glasses raised, three merrymakers, two happy faces,
And God’s blessing surrounding the New Year!

At the seventh stroke of midnight
I was watching from afar
Seven stifled giggles,
Six jokes misfiring,
– Five beloved pairs of eyes –
Four glasses raised, three merrymakers, two happy faces,
And God’s blessing surrounding the New Year!

At the eighth stroke of midnight
I was watching from afar
Eight feet a’dancing,
Seven stifled giggles,
Six jokes misfiring,
– Five beloved pairs of eyes –
Four glasses raised, three merrymakers, two happy faces,
And God’s blessing surrounding the New Year!

On the ninth stroke of midnight
I was watching from afar
Nine sighs of contentment,
Eight feet a’dancing,
Seven stifled giggles,
Six jokes misfiring,
– Five beloved pairs of eyes –
Four glasses raised, three merrymakers, two happy faces,
And God’s blessing surrounding the New Year!

On the tenth stroke of midnight
I was watching from afar
Ten multiplying wishes,
Nine sighs of contentment,
Eight feet a’dancing,
Seven stifled giggles,
Six jokes misfiring,
– Five beloved pairs of eyes –
Four glasses raised, three merrymakers, two happy faces,
And God’s blessing surrounding the New Year!

On the eleventh stroke of midnight
I was watching from afar
Eleven amusing musings,
Ten multiplying wishes,
Nine sighs of contentment,
Eight feet a’dancing,
Seven stifled giggles,
Six jokes misfiring,
– Five beloved pairs of eyes –
Four glasses raised, three merrymakers, two happy faces,
And God’s blessing surrounding the New Year!

On the twelfth stroke of midnight
I was watching from afar
Twelve “Auld Lang Synes,”
Eleven amusing musings,
Ten multiplying wishes,
Nine sighs of contentment,
Eight feet a’dancing,
Seven stifled giggles,
Six jokes misfiring,
– Five beloved pairs of eyes –
Four glasses raised, three merrymakers, two happy faces,
And God’s blessing surrounding the New Year!