The Project Gutenberg eBook of Christmas carols

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Title: Christmas carols

Old English carols for Christmas and other festivals

Editor: L. Edna Walter

Contributor: Lucy Etheldred Broadwood

Illustrator: J. H. Hartley

Release date: December 23, 2023 [eBook #72492]

Language: English

Original publication: New York: The MacMillian Company, 1922

Credits: Robin Monks, Linda Cantoni, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRISTMAS CAROLS ***

Transcriber’s Note: In the HTML version of this e-book, you can click on the [Listen] link to hear an mp3 audio file of the carol. Click on the [MusicXML] link to download the notation in MusicXML format. These music files are the music transcriber’s interpretation of the printed notation and are placed in the public domain.

cover
endpaper

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

CONTENTS

IN THE SAME SERIES.

ENGLISH NURSERY RHYMES.

Selected and Edited by L. EDNA WALTER. B.Sc.
Harmonized by LUCY E. BROADWOOD.
Illustrated by DOROTHY M. WHEELER.

Containing 32 full-page illustrations in colour, decorative borders, and about 60 decorative headings and tail-pieces. Demy 4to (11½ × 8¾ inches).

SONGS FROM
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
AND
THROUGH THE LOOKING-GLASS.

Words by LEWIS CARROLL.
Music by LUCY E. BROADWOOD.
Illustrations by CHARLES FOLKARD.

Containing 12 full-page illustrations in colour, decorative borders, and many small illustrations. Demy 4to, cloth.

Published by A. & C. BLACK, Ltd., 4, 5, & 6, Soho Square, London, W.1.

frontispiece
title page

CHRISTMAS
CAROLS

Old English Carols for Christmas and other Festivals.

SELECTED AND EDITED BY
L. EDNA WALTER M.B.E., B.Sc., A.C.G.I.

HARMONISED BY
LUCY E. BROADWOOD

ILLUSTRATED BY
J.H. HARTLEY

NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY, FIFTH AVENUE.
LONDON: A. & C. BLACK, LIMITED, 4, 5, & 6, SOHO SQUARE.

This book is dedicated to

ELIZABETH

because she rather liked it.

Published, Autumn, 1922.

-7-

FOREWORD

Foreword - Gloria Excelsis Deo

Special times or events have been celebrated from time immemorial by feasting, dancing, and singing. Often the dancers formed a ring and sang as they danced, first the dance and later the song being called a carol. The carol was not always strictly religious, although in the old times both the singing and dancing often took place in cathedrals and churches. Some of the carols that we still know are connected with times before the Christian era. They have now lost their dance and the melody has changed, but the ideas are very ancient. The Holly and the Ivy suggest the old Druids, and we still put up Holly and Ivy in our houses just as people did before the time of Christ. We put them up at Christmas, and we sing the carol at Christmas—but the idea at the back of it is older than Christmas, for the Church accepted all that was found to be of value in the old customs, and adapted them to set forth the newer faith. The carrying in of the Boar’s Head is an old ceremony, too. It was considered a Royal Dish, and Henry II. ordered it to appear at a special feast which he gave in honour of his son.

In the old days people thought of the New Year as the time when the trees and flowers began to come out—that is about May Day—so the May Day Carols celebrate the New Year’s Day of ever so long ago. Gradually, however, carols have centred more and more round events in the life of Christ, and especially round the wonderful story of His Birth. Many of them have just been handed on from one person to another through hundreds of years, some have only been written down at all during the last century. For example, the version given here of the “Black Decree” was sung into my phonograph by an old man of seventy-five. All the carols chosen for this book are those which have been sung through many, many years at times of festival and mirth (note how often food and drink are referred to), so don’t expect them to be pious in the modern way or to be at all like our present-day hymns.

-8-

The Publishers desire to acknowledge their indebtedness to Miss Lucy E. Broadwood for kindly permitting them to reproduce in this collection the following carols from her ENGLISH TRADITIONAL SONGS AND CAROLS: “King Pharaoh,” “The Moon Shines Bright,” “The Sussex Mummers’ Carol,” and “I’ve been Rambling all the Night.” Also to Miss A.G. Gilchrist for the “Pace Egging Song” and “The Seven Joys of Mary,” and to the Rev. S. Baring-Gould and his publishers (Messrs. Methuen & Co., Ltd.) for the “Somersetshire Wassail” from A GARLAND OF COUNTRY SONG.

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CONTENTS

  PAGE
GOOD KING WENCESLAS 12
AS JOSEPH WAS A-WALKING 14
CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE MORNING 15
GOD REST YOU MERRY, GENTLEMEN 16
THE HOLY WELL 18
THE FIRST NOWELL 20
THE CHERRY TREE CAROL 23
DIVES AND LAZARUS 24
THE HOLLY AND THE IVY 25
A VIRGIN MOST PURE 26
THE WASSAIL SONG. Part I. 28
THE WASSAIL SONG. Part II. 29
THE BOAR’S HEAD CAROL 30
ALL THAT ARE TO MIRTH INCLINED 33
KING PHARAOH: Part I. The Miracle of the Cock 34
KING PHARAOH: Part II. The Miraculous Harvest 37
THE BLACK DECREE 38
SOMERSETSHIRE WASSAIL 40
A CHILD THIS DAY IS BORN 43
THE MOON SHINES BRIGHT 44
A CAROL FOR TWELFTH DAY 47
THE LORD AT FIRST DID ADAM MAKE 48
THE SEVEN JOYS OF MARY 50
THE SUSSEX MUMMERS’ CAROL 52
AS I SAT ON A SUNNY BANK 53
PACE-EGGING SONG 54
I’VE BEEN RAMBLING ALL THE NIGHT 57
GOOD CHRISTIAN MEN, REJOICE 58
angel

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ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOUR
BY
J.H. HARTLEY

Page and Monarch forth they went Frontispiece
  PAGE
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep 21
Mary said to cherry tree, “Bow down to my knee” 22
The Boar’s head in hand bear I 31
Let all your songs and praises be unto His Heavenly Majesty 32
“Say, where did you come from, good man?” 35
“Come, husbandman,” cried Jesus, “cast all your seed away” 36
O maid, fair maid, in holland smock 41
Glad tidings to all men 42
Awake, Awake, good people all! 45
For I perforce must take my leave of all my dainty cheer 46
Oh, here come we jolly boys, all of one mind 55
A branch of May, my dear, I say, before your door I stand 56
Now to the Lord sing praises, all you within this place On the Cover
decoration

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Good King Wenceslas

1. GOOD King Wenceslas looked out
On the Feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about,
Deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shone the moon that night,
Though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight,
Gathering winter fuel.
2. “Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know’st it, telling,
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?”
“Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain;
Right against the forest fence,
By St. Agnes’ fountain.”
3. “Bring me flesh, and bring me wine,
Bring me pine-logs hither;
Thou and I will see him dine,
When we bear them thither.”
Page and monarch forth they went,
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind’s wild lament
And the bitter weather.
4. “Sire! the night is darker now,
And the wind blows stronger;
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer.”
“Mark my footsteps, good my page;
Tread thou in them boldly;
Thou shalt find the winter’s rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly.”
5. In his master’s steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod
Which the saint had printed.
Therefore Christian men, be sure,
Wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing.

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Good King Wenceslas music

[Listen] [MusicXML]

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As Joseph was a-walking

[Listen] [MusicXML]

1. As Joseph was a-walking
He heard an angel sing,
“This night shall be the birthtime
Of Christ, the Heavenly King.
2. “He neither shall be born
In housen nor in hall.
Nor in the place of Paradise,
But in an ox’s stall.
3. “He neither shall be clothed
In purple nor in pall,
But in the fair white linen
That usen babies all.
4. “He neither shall be rocked
In silver nor in gold,
But in a wooden manger
That resteth on the mould.”
5. As Joseph was a-walking,
There did an angel sing;
And Mary’s child at midnight
Was born to be our King.
6. Then be ye glad, good people,
This night of all the year,
And light ye up your candles,
For His star it shineth clear.

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Christmas Day in the Morning

[Listen] [MusicXML]

1. I saw three ships come sailing in,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
I saw three ships come sailing in,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
2. And what was in those ships all three
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And what was in those ships all three
On Christmas Day in the morning?
3. Our Saviour Christ and His lady
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Our Saviour Christ and His lady
On Christmas Day in the morning.
4. Pray whither sailed those ships all three
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Pray whither sailed those ships all three
On Christmas Day in the morning?
5. O they sailed into Bethlehem
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
O they sailed into Bethlehem
On Christmas Day in the morning.
6. And all the bells on earth shall ring
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the bells on earth shall ring
On Christmas Day in the morning.
7. And all the angels in Heaven shall sing
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the angels in Heaven shall sing
On Christmas Day in the morning.
8. And all the souls on earth shall sing
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the souls on earth shall sing
On Christmas Day in the morning.
9. Then let us all rejoice amain
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Then let us all rejoice amain
On Christmas Day in the morning.

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God rest you merry, Gentlemen!

1. GOD rest you merry, Gentlemen!
Let nothing you dismay;
Remember Christ our Saviour
Was born upon this day,
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
2. In Bethlehem in Jury
This blessèd Babe was born,
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessèd morn:
The which His Mother Mary
Nothing did take in scorn.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
3. From God, our Heavenly Father,
A blessèd angel came,
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same,
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
4. “Fear not,” then said the angel,
“Let nothing you affright:
This day is born a Saviour
Of virtue, power, and might;
So frequently to vanquish all
The friends of Satan quite.”
O tidings of comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
5. The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm, and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway
This blessèd Babe to find.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
6. But when to Bethlehem they came,
Where this dear Infant lay,
They found Him in a manger
Where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary, kneeling,
Unto the Lord did pray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
7. Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy-tide of Christmas
All others doth efface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

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[Listen] [MusicXML]

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The Holy Well

1. AS it fell out one May morning,
On a bright holiday,
Sweet Jesus ask’d His mother dear,
If He might go to play.
“To play, to play, sweet Jesus go.
And to play now get you gone,
And let me hear of no complaints,
At night when you come home.”
2. Sweet Jesus went down to yonder town,
As far as the Holy Well,
And there did see as fine children
As any tongue can tell.
He said, “God bless you ev’ry one,
May Christ your portion be:
Little children, shall I play with you?
And you shall play with Me.”
3. But they made answer to Him, “No,”
They were lords’ and ladies’ sons;
And He the meanest of them all,
Was born in an ox’s stall.
Sweet Jesus turned Him around,
And He neither laugh’d nor smil’d,
But the tears came trickling from His eyes
Like water from the skies.
4. Sweet Jesus turned Him about,
To His mother’s dear home went He,
And said “I’ve been in yonder town,
As after you may see.
I’ve been in yonder town,
As far as the Holy Well;
There did I meet as fine children
As any tongue can tell.
5. I bid God bless them ev’ry one,
And Christ their bodies see;
Little children, shall I play with you?
And you shall play with Me.
But then they answer’d Me ‘No,’
They were lords’ and ladies’ sons;
And I the meanest of them all,
Was born in an ox’s stall.”
6. “Though you are but a maiden’s child,
Born in an ox’s stall,
Thou art the Christ, the King of Heav’n,
And the Saviour of them all.
Sweet Jesus, go down to yonder town,
As far as the Holy Well,
And take away those sinful souls,
And dip them deep in hell.”
7. “Nay, nay,” sweet Jesus mildly said,
“Nay, nay, that must not be;
For there are too many sinful souls
Crying out for the help of Me.”
O then bespoke the angel Gabriel,
“Upon our good St. Stephen,
Although you’re but a maiden’s Child,
You are the King of Heav’n.”

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[Listen] [MusicXML]

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The First Nowell

[Listen] [MusicXML]

1. The first Nowell the Angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Chorus.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell!
Born is the King of Israel!
2. They looked up and saw a Star
Shining in the east beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
Nowell, etc.
3. And by the light of that same Star
Three wise men came from country far;
To seek for a king was their intent,
And to follow the Star wherever it went.
Nowell, etc.
4. This Star drew nigh to the north-west
O’er Bethlehem it took its rest,
And there it did both stop and stay
Right o’er the place where Jesus lay.
Nowell, etc.
5. Then entered in those wise men three
Most reverently upon their knee,
And offered there, in His presence,
Both gold, and myrrh, and frankincense.
Nowell, etc.
6. Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our Heavenly Lord,
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought,
And with His blood mankind hath bought.
Nowell, etc.

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shepherds

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cherry tree

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The Cherry Tree Carol

[Listen] [MusicXML]

1. Joseph was an old man,
An old man was he;
He married sweet Mary,
The Queen of Galilee.
2. As they went a-walking
In the garden so gay,
Sweet Mary spied cherries
Hanging over yon tree.
3. Mary said to Joseph,
With her sweet lips so mild,
“Pluck those cherries, Joseph,
For to give to my child.”
4. “O then,” replied Joseph,
With words so unkind,
“I will pluck no cherries
For to give to thy child.”
5. Mary said to cherry tree
“Bow down to my knee,
That I may pluck cherries,
By one, two, and three.”
6. The uppermost sprig then
Bowed down to her knee,
“Thus you may see, Joseph,
These cherries are for me.”
7. “O eat your cherries, Mary,
O eat your cherries now,
O eat your cherries, Mary,
That grow upon the bough.”

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Dives and Lazarus

[Listen] [MusicXML]

1. As it fell out upon a day,
Rich Dives made a feast,
And he invited all his friends,
And gentry of the best.
2. Then Lazarus laid him down and down,
And down at Dives’s door.
“Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,
Bestow upon the poor.”
3. “Thou’rt none of mine, brother Lazarus,
That lies begging at my door:
Nor meat nor drink will I give to thee,
Nor bestow upon the poor.”
4. Then Dives sent out his hungry dogs,
To bite him as he lay;
They had no power to bite at all,
But licked his sores away.
5. As it fell out upon a day,
Poor Lazarus sickened and died,
There came two Angels out of Heaven
His soul therein to guide.
6. As it fell out upon a day,
Rich Dives sickened and died,
There came two serpents out of Hell,
His soul therein to guide.
7. Then Dives looked with burning eyes,
And saw poor Lazarus blest;
“One drop of water, Lazarus,
To quench my flaming thirst!
8. “Oh! had I as many years to abide
As there are blades of grass.
Then there would be an end; but now
Hell’s pains will never pass.”

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The Holly and the Ivy

[Listen] [MusicXML]

1. The Holly and the Ivy
Now both are full well grown;
Of all the trees that spring in wood
The Holly bears the crown;
The Holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flower,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
To be our sweet Saviour,
To be our sweet Saviour.
2. The Holly bears a berry
As red as any blood;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good.
The Holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas day in the morn,
On Christmas day in the morn.
3. The Holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all.
The Holly and the Ivy
Now both are full well grown;
Of all the trees that spring in wood
The Holly bears the crown,
The Holly bears the crown.

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A Virgin Most Pure

1.
A VIRGIN most pure, as the Prophet foretold,
Should bring forth a Saviour, which now we behold.
To be our Redeemer from death, hell, and sin,
Which Adam’s transgression had wrappèd us in.
Rejoice and be merry, cast sorrow aside,
Christ Jesus, our Saviour, was born on this tide.
2.
In Bethlehem city, in Jury it was
When Joseph and Mary together did pass
All for to be taxed with many one more,
For Cæsar commanded the same should be so.
Rejoice and be merry, etc.
3.
But when they had entered the city so far,
A number of people so mighty was there
That Joseph and Mary, whose substance was small,
Could get in the city no lodging at all.
Rejoice and be merry, etc.
4.
Then they were constrained in a stable to lie,
Where oxen and asses they used to tie;
Their lodging so simple they held it no scorn,
But against the next morning our Saviour was born.
Rejoice and be merry, set sorrow aside,
Christ Jesus, our Saviour, was born on this tide.
5.
The King of all Glory to the world being brought,
Small store of fine linen to wrap Him was bought;
When Mary had swaddled her young Son so sweet,
Within an ox-manger she laid Him to sleep.
Rejoice and be merry, etc.
6.
Then God sent an angel from Heaven so high
To certain poor shepherds in fields as they lie,
And bade them no longer in sorrow to stay
Because that our Saviour was born on this day.
Rejoice and be merry, etc.
7.
Then presently after, the shepherds did spy
A number of angels appear in the sky,
Who joyfully talked and sweetly did sing
“To God be all glory, our Heavenly King.”
Rejoice and be merry, etc.
8.
Three certain wise princes, they thought it most meet
To lay their rich offerings at our Saviour’s feet;
Then the shepherds consented, and to Bethlehem did go
And when they came thither, they found it was so.
Rejoice and be merry, etc.

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[Listen] [MusicXML]

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The Wassail Song

PART I.

[Listen] [MusicXML]

1. Here we come a-wassailing
Among the leaves so green;
Here we come a-wand’ring,
So plainly to be seen.
Chorus
Love and joy come to you,
And to you your wassail too!
And God bless you, and send you a happy New Year,
And God send you a happy New Year!
2. Our wassail cup is made
Of the rosemary tree,
And so is your beer
Of the best barley.
Love and joy, etc.
3. We are not daily beggars
That beg from door to door,
But we are neighbours’ children
Whom you have seen before.
Love and joy, etc.
4. Good master and good mistress,
As you sit by the fire
Pray think of us poor children
A-wandering in the mire.
Love and joy, etc.

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The Wassail Song

PART II.

[Listen] [MusicXML]

5. We have a little purse,
It is made of rabbit skin,
We want a little sixpence
To line it well within.
Chorus.
Love and joy come to you,
And to you your wassail too!
And God bless you, and send you a happy New Year,
And God send you a happy New Year!
6. Call up the Butler of this house
Put on his golden ring;
Let him bring us a glass of beer
And the better we shall sing.
Love and joy, etc.
7. Bring us out a table
And spread it with a cloth;
Bring us out a mouldy cheese,
And some of your Christmas loaf.
Love and joy, etc.
8. God bless the Master of this house,
Likewise the Mistress too;
And all the little children
That round the table go.
Love and joy, etc.

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The Boar’s Head Carol

[Listen] [MusicXML]

1.
The boar’s head in hand bear I,
Bedeck’d with bays and rosemary,
And I pray you, my masters, be merry
Quot estis in convivio.
Chorus.
Caput apri defero.
Reddons laudes Domino.
2.
The boar’s head as I understand
Is the bravest dish in all the land;
When thus bedecked with a gay garland
Let us servire cantico.
Caput apri defero
Reddons laudes Domino.
3.
Our steward hath provided this
In honour of the King of Bliss,
Which on this day to be served is
In regimensi atrio.
Caput apri defero
Reddons laudes Domino.

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Boar's head

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songs and praises

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Let all that are to mirth inclined

[Listen] [MusicXML]

1. Let all that are to mirth inclined
Consider well, and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done,
In sending His Belovèd Son.
Chorus.
For, to redeem our souls from thrall,
Christ is the Saviour of us all.
2. Let all your songs and praises be
Unto His Heavenly Majesty;
And evermore, amongst our mirth,
Remember Christ our Saviour’s birth.
For, to redeem our souls from thrall,
Christ is the Saviour of us all.
3. If choirs of Angels did rejoice,
Well may mankind with heart and voice
Sing praises to the God of Heaven,
Who unto us His Son has given.
For, to redeem our souls from thrall,
Christ is the Saviour of us all.

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King Pharaoh—Part I.

THE MIRACLE OF THE COCK
Sussex Gypsies’ Carol.

[Listen] [MusicXML]

1. King Pharaoh sat a-musing,
A-musing all alone;
There came the blessèd Saviour,
Though all to him unknown.
2. “Say, where did you come from, good man?
Oh, where did you then pass?”
“It is out of the Land of Egypt,
Between an ox and ass.”
3. “Oh, if you come out of Egypt, man,
One thing I deem thou know’st:
Is Jesus born of Mary
And of the Holy Ghost?
4. “And if the news be true, good man,
That you are telling me,
Make this roasted cock to crow three times
In the dish which here we see.”
5. Oh, it’s straight away the cock did rise,
All feathered to the hand;
Three times the roasted cock did crow
On the dish where it did stand.

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Pharaoh

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Joseph Mary and Jesus

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King Pharaoh—Part II.

THE MIRACULOUS HARVEST

[Listen] [MusicXML]

1. Oh, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus
Were travelling for the west;
When Mary grew a-weary
She might sit down and rest.
2. They travelled further and further,
The weather being so warm,
Till they came unto a husbandman
A-sowing of his corn.
3. “Come, husbandman,” cried Jesus,
“Cast all your seed away,
And carry home as ripened corn
What you have sowed this day.
4. “To keep your wife and family
From sorrow, grief, and pain,
And keep Christ in remembrance
Till seed-time comes again.”

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The Black Decree

A Shropshire Version.

1.
LET Christians all with one accord rejoice
And praises sing with heart as well as voice,
To God on high, for wonders He hath done
In sending us His well belovèd Son.
2.
The night before that happy day of grace
The Virgin Mother, she had no resting place;
She and her pious Joseph were so low
They scarcely knew which way or where to go.
3.
For they were forced to wander up and down
And they could find no lodging in the town;
But in an ox’s stall where beasts are fed
His mother made our Lord His lowly bed.
4.
Three wise men by a star were thither brought
And found the blessèd Babe they long had sought.
The best of spices and rich costly things
They humbly offered unto the King of kings.
5.
Then rather than the Lord of life betray
They worshipped Him and went another way,
Which so enraged the wicked Herod then
(The Jewish king, the very worst of men);
6.
He caused young harmless infants to be killed;
All under two years old, their blood was spilled.
Dear parents’ tears could not his rage prevent,
Nor pity move the tyrant to repent.
7.
The Black Decree went all the country round,
To kill and murder children both sick and sound;
They tore young infants from their mothers’ breast,
Thinking to murder Christ among the rest.
8.
But God above, Who knew what would be done,
Had sent to Egypt His Belovèd Son:
Where with His earthly parents He was fed
Until that cruel tyrant he was dead.

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[Listen] [MusicXML]

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Somersetshire Wassail

[Listen] [MusicXML]

1. Wassail! wassail! all round the town,
For the cup is white and the ale is brown,
For it’s our wassail, and ’tis your wassail,
And ’tis joy come to our jolly wassail!
2. The cup is made of the ashen tree,
And the ale is made of the best barley,
For it’s our wassail, etc.
3. O maid, fair maid in holland smock,
Come ope the door and turn the lock,
For it’s our wassail, etc.
4. O master, mistress, that sit by the fire,
Consider us poor travellers all in the mire,
For it’s our wassail, etc.
5. Put out the ale and raw milk cheese,
And then you shall see how happy we be’s,
For it’s our wassail, etc.

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fair maid

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glad tidings

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A Child this Day is born

[Listen] [MusicXML]

1. A Child this day is born,
A Child of high renown;
Most worthy of a sceptre,
A sceptre and a crown.
Chorus.
Glad tidings to all men,
Glad tidings sing we may,
Because the King of kings
Was born on Christmas Day.
2. These tidings shepherds heard
Whilst watching o’er their fold;
’Twas by an Angel unto them
That night revealed and told.
Glad tidings, etc.
3. Then was there with the Angel
A host incontinent
Of heavenly bright soldiers
All from the Highest sent.
Glad tidings, etc.
4. They praised the Lord our God,
And our Celestial King;
“All glory be in Paradise,”
This heavenly host did sing.
Glad tidings, etc.
5. All glory be to God,
That sitteth still on high,
With praises and with triumph great,
And joyful melody.
Glad tidings, etc.

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The Moon shines bright

Surrey and Sussex New Year Carol.

[Listen] [MusicXML]

1. Oh, the moon shines bright, and the stars give a light;
In a little time it will be day,
The Lord our God He calls upon us all,
And He bids us awake and pray.
2. Awake, awake, good people all!
Awake, and you shall hear:
Our blessèd Saviour died upon the Cross,
For Christ loved us so dear.
3. So dear, so dear Christ loved us all,
He for our sins was slain;
Leave off, O men, your wicked, wicked ways,
And turn to the Lord again.
4. Oh, the life of man it is but a span,
He flourishes like a flower,
He’s here to-day, and to-morrow he is gone,
And he’s dead all in an hour.
5. Oh, teach your children well, good men,
As long as here you stay,
For it will be better for your sweet souls,
When your bodies lie under the clay.
6. There’s a green turf for our heads, good men
And another for our feet,
Where our good deeds and our evil deeds too
Together all will meet.

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awake

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dainty cheer

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A Carol for Twelfth Day

[Listen] [MusicXML]

1. Mark well my heavy doleful tale
For Twelfth Day now is come,
And now I must no longer stay,
And say no word but mum.
For I perforce must take my leave
Of all my dainty cheer—
Plum porridge, roast beef, and minc’d pies,
My strong ale and my beer.
2. Kind hearted Christmas, now adieu,
For I with thee must part;
But oh! to take my leave of thee
Doth grieve me at the heart.
Thou wert an ancient housekeeper,
And mirth with meat didst keep,
But thou art going out of town
Which causes me to weep.
3. Come, butler, fill a brimmer full,
To cheer my fainting heart,
That to old Christmas I may drink
Before he does depart.
And let each one that’s in the room
With me likewise condole,
And now to cheer their spirits sad
Let each one drink a bowl.
4. And when the same it hath gone round,
Then fall unto your cheer;
For you well know that Christmas time
It comes but once a year.
Thanks to my master and my dame
That do such cheer afford,
God bless them, that each Christmas they
May furnish so their board.

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The Lord at first did Adam make

A Carol for Christmas Eve.

1.
THE Lord at first did Adam make
Out of the dust and clay,
And in his nostrils breathèd life,
E’en as the Scriptures say.
And then in Eden’s Paradise
He placèd him to dwell,
That he within it should remain,
To dress and keep it well.
Now let good Christians all begin
A holy life to live,
And to rejoice and merry be,
For this is Christmas Eve.
2.
And thus within the garden he
Commanded was to stay;
And unto him in commandment
These words the Lord did say,
“The fruit that in the garden grows
To thee shall be for meat,
Except the tree in midst thereof,
Of which thou shalt not eat.”
Now let good Christians, etc.
3.
“For in that day thou dost it touch,
Or dost it then come nigh,
And if that thou dost eat thereof,
Then thou shalt surely die.”
But Adam he did take no heed
To that same holy thing,
But did transgress God’s holy laws,
And sore was wrapp’d in sin.
Now let good Christians all begin
A holy life to live,
And to rejoice and merry be,
For this is Christmas Eve.
4.
Now mark the goodness of the Lord,
Which He to mankind bore;
His mercy soon He did extend
Lost man for to restore;
And then, for to redeem our souls
From death, and hell, and thrall,
He said His own dear Son should come
The Saviour of us all.
Now let good Christians, etc.
5.
And now the tide is nigh at hand
In which our Saviour came,
Let us rejoice and merry be
In keeping of the same.
Let’s feed the poor and hungry sort,
And such as do it crave;
And when we die, in Heaven be sure
Our reward we shall have.
Now let good Christians, etc.

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[Listen] [MusicXML]

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The Seven Joys of Mary

Tinkers’ Carol from Ashdown Forest.

1.
THE first good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of one;
To see the blessèd Jesus
When He was first her Son.
When He was first her Son, good Lord,
And happy may we be;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
To all eternity.
2.
The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of two;
To see her own Son Jesus
To make the lame to go.
To make the lame to go, good Lord, etc.
3.
The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of three;
To see her own Son Jesus
To make the blind to see.
To make the blind to see, good Lord, etc.
4.
The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of four;
To see her own Son Jesus
To read the Bible o’er.
To read the Bible o’er, good Lord,
And happy may we be;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
To all eternity.
5.
The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of five;
To see her own Son Jesus
To raise the dead to life.
To raise the dead to life, good Lord, etc.
6.
The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of six;
To see her own Son Jesus
Upon the Crucifix.
Upon the Crucifix, good Lord, etc.
7.
The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of seven;
To see her own Son Jesus
Ascending into heaven.
Ascending into heaven, good Lord, etc.

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[Listen] [MusicXML]

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The Sussex Mummers’ Carol

[Listen] [MusicXML]

1.
A glorious Angel from Heaven came
Unto a virtuous maid,
Strange tidings and great news of joy
The humble Mary had,
The humble Mary had.
2.
O mortal man, remember well
When Christ our Lord was born,
He was crucified betwixt two thieves
And crownèd with the thorn.
3.
O mortal man, remember well
When Christ died on the rood;
’Twas for our sins and wicked ways
Christ shed His precious blood.
4.
O mortal man, remember well
When Christ was wrapped in clay,
He was taken to a sepulchre
Where no man ever lay.
5.
God bless the mistress of this house
With gold chain round her breast;
Where e’er her body sleeps or wakes,
Lord send her soul to rest.
6.
God bless the master of this house
With happiness beside;
Where e’er his body rides or walks,
Lord Jesus be his guide.
7.
God bless your house, your children too,
Your cattle and your store;
The Lord increase you day by day,
And give you more and more.

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As I sat on a Sunny Bank

[Listen] [MusicXML]

1.
As I sat on a sunny bank,
A sunny bank, a sunny bank;
As I sat on a sunny bank,
On Christmas Day in the morning,
2.
I spied three ships come sailing by,
Come sailing by, come sailing by,
I spied three ships come sailing by,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
3.
And who should be with these three ships,
With these three ships, with these three ships,
And who should be with these three ships,
But Joseph and his fair lady.
4.
Oh, he did whistle and she did sing,
And all the bells on earth did ring
For joy, that our Saviour He was born
On Christmas Day in the morning.

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Pace-Egging[A] Song

An Easter Carol, as sung formerly about Middleton, Westmorland.

[Listen] [MusicXML]

1.
Oh, here come we jolly boys, all of one mind,
We’ve come a-pace-egging, I hope you’ll prove kind.
I hope you’ll prove kind with your eggs and good cheer;
We’ll no more come nigh you until the next year.
Fol de diddle dum,
Fol de day!
Fol de diddle di dum day!
2.
The first that comes in is Lord Nelson, you see,
He’s a valiant old laddie in every degree;
He’s a valiant old lad, and he wears a pigtail,
And all his delight is in drinking mulled ale.
Fol de diddle dum, etc.
3.
The next that comes in is a jolly Jack Tar,
He sailed with Lord Nelson a-during last war;
He’s arrived from the sea old England to view,
And he’s come the pace-egging with us jolly crew.
Fol de diddle dum, etc.
4.
The next that comes in is a soldier, you see,
He’s a bunch of blue ribbons right down to his knee,
He’s a star on his breast like silver does shine,
I hope you’ll remember it’s pace-egging time.
Fol de diddle dum, etc.
5.
The last that comes in is old Nan with her bags,
For sake of her money she wears but old rags;
She’s gold and she’s silver and money in store,
She’s come along with us in hopes to get more.
Fol de diddle dum, etc.
6.
Ladies and gentlemen that sit by the fire,
Put your hand in your pocket, that’s all our desire;
Put your hand in your pocket and pull out your purse,
And give us a trifle, you’ll not be much worse.
Fol de diddle dum, etc.

[A] Pace = Pâques = Easter.

The singers of this and similar “Easter Egg” songs are usually dressed up roughly to represent the characters referred to in the verses.

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jolly boys

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branch of may

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I’ve been Rambling all the Night

Bedfordshire May Day Carol.

[Listen] [MusicXML]

1.
I’ve been rambling all the night,
And the best part of the day,
And now I am returning back again,
And have brought you a branch of may.
2.
A branch of may, my dear, I say,
Before your door I stand;
It’s nothing but a sprout, but it’s well budded out
By the work of our Lord’s hand.
3.
Go down in your dairy, and fetch me a cup,
A cup of your good cheer,
And, if I should live to tarry in the town,
I will call on you next year.
4.
The hedges and the fields they are so green,
As green as any leaf,
Our Heavenly Father waters them
With His Heavenly dew so sweet.
5.
When I am dead and in my grave,
And covered with cold clay,
The nightingale will sit and sing
And pass the time away.
6.
Take a Bible in your hand
And read a chapter through
And when the day of Judgment comes,
The Lord will think of you.
7.
I have a bag on my right arm
Draws up with a silken string,
Nothing does it want but a silver piece
To line it well within.
8.
And now my song is almost done,
I can no longer stay,
God bless you all, both great and small,
I wish you a joyful May.

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Good Christian Men, rejoice

[Listen] [MusicXML]

1.
Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart, and soul, and voice;
Give ye heed to what we say:
News! News!
Jesus Christ is born to-day!
Ox and ass before Him bow,
And He is in the manger now.
Christ is born to-day!
Christ is born to-day!
2.
Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice;
Now ye hear of endless bliss:
Joy! Joy!
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath ope’d the heavenly door,
And man is blessèd evermore.
Christ is born for this!
Christ is born for this!
3.
Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice;
Now ye need not fear the grave:
Peace! Peace!
Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all,
To gain His everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save!
Christ was born to save!
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