Copyright for the original carol: public domain
Original text: Traditional English/Irish (18th Century or earlier)
Original melody: Traditional Irish (18th-19th Century or earlier)
This carol is also known as the Enniscorthy Carol. Although it is quite old, it was "re-discovered" and transcribed by Dr. Grattan Flood (1859-1928) who lived in Enniscorthy, in County Wexford, Ireland. He was the organist and music director at St. Aidan's Cathedral there.
The melody is Irish, and the text can be sung in English or Irish, but people have noted the English text’s similarity to a much older carol, “Let All That Are to Mirth Inclined.” They are definitely related! (This has been your carol nerd moment. :) )
lyrics
Good people all, this Christmastime,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done
In sending his beloved Son.
With Mary holy we should pray
To God with love this Christmas Day;
In Bethlehem upon that morn
There was a blessed Messiah born.
The night before that happy tide
The noble Virgin and her guide
Were long time seeking up and down
To find a lodging in the town.
But mark how all things came to pass:
From ev’ry door repelled, alas!
As long foretold, their refuge all
Was but an humble ox’s stall.
There were three Wise Men from afar
Directed by a glorious star,
And on they wandered night and day
Until they came where Jesus lay.
And when they came unto that place
Where our beloved Messiah was
They humbly cast them at his feet
With gifts of gold and incense sweet.
Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep
Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep;
To whom God’s angel did appear
Which put the shepherds in great fear.
‘Prepare and go,’ the angel said,
‘To Bethlehem, be not afraid;
For there you’ll find, this happy morn,
A princely babe, sweet Jesus born.’
With thankful heart and joyful mind,
The shepherds went the babe to find,
And as God’s angel had foretold,
They did our Savior Christ behold.
Within a manger he was laid,
And by his side the Virgin maid,
Attending on the Lord of life,
Who came on Earth to end all strife.
credits
from Advent 2018,
released December 3, 2018
Vocals: L.D.A.L.
Arrangement: L.D.A.L.
Copyright: L.D.A.L./DeguMoth Studios, 2018
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