1
Willie, take your little drum, with your whistle, Robin, come!
When we hear the fife and drum, ture-lure-lu, pata-pata-pan,
When we hear the fife and drum, Christmas should be frolicsome.
Thus the men of olden days loved the King of Kings to praise,
When they heard the fife and drum, ture-lure-lu…
When they hear the fife and drum, sure, our children won't be dumb.
God and man are now become more at one than fife and drum.
When you hear the fife and drum, ture-lure-lu…
When you hear the fife and drum, dance and make the village hum.
2
We three kings of orient are;
bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain,
following yonder star.
O star of wonder, star of night,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.
(Melchior:) Born a king on Bethlehem plain,
gold I bring to crown him again.
King forever, ceasing never,
over us all to reign.
O star of wonder…
(Gaspar:) Frankincense to offer have I;
incense owns a Deity nigh;
prayer and praising, all men raising,
worship Him, God most high.
O star of wonder…
(Balthazar:) Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
O star o wonder…
Glorious now, behold him arise,
King and God, and sacrifice!
Heaven sing alleluya,
alleluyu the earth replies.
O star of wonder…
3
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.
And what was in those ships all three? …
Our Saviour Christ and his lady …
Pray, whither sailed those ships all three? …
O, they sailed into Bethlehem …
And all the bells on earth shall ring …
And all the angels in Heaven shall sing …
And all the souls on earth shall sing …
Then let us all rejoice amain! …
4
Lullay, Thou little tiny Child, Bye-bye, lulloo, lullay.
Lullay, Thou little tiny Child, Bye-bye, lulloo, lullay.
O sisters, too, how may we do, for to preserve this day?
This poor youngling for whom we do sing, Bye-bye, lulloo, lullay.
Herod the King, in his raging, charged he hath this day.
His man of might, in his own sight, all children young to slay.
Then woe is me, poor Child for Thee, and ever morn and day,
For Thy parting neither say nor sing, Bye-bye, lulloo, lullay.
5
It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth, to touch their harps of gold.
"Peace on earth, good will to men, from Heaven's all-gracious King."
The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing.
O ye, beneath life's crushing load, whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow.
Look now, for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing;
O rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing.
For lo! the days are hast'ning on, by prophets seen of old,
When with the ever circling years shall the time foretold,
When the new heav'n and earth shall own the Prince of Peace,
Their King and the whole world send back the song which the angels now sing.
6
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.
"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."
"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.
"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 shall find the winter's rage freeze thy blood less coldly."
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.
7
Once in Royal David's City stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed.
Mary was the mother mild, Jesus Christ that little child.
And through all His wondrous Childhood, He would honor and obey.
Love and watch the lowly maiden, in whose gentle arms he lay;
Christian children all must be, mild, obedient, good as He.
8
Little Jesus, sweetly sleep, do not stir; we will lend you a coat of fur,
We will rock you, rock you, rock you,
See the fur to keep you warm, snugly round your tiny form.
Mary's little baby sleep, sweetly sleep, sleep in comfort slumber deep;
We will rock you, rock you, rock you,
We will serve you all we can, darling, darling little man.
9
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.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, born is the King of Israel.
They looked up and saw a star,
Shining in the East, beyond them far;
And to the earth it gave a great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
Nowell, Nowell…
This star drew nigh to the Northwest;
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest,
And there it did both stop and stay,
Right over the place where Jesus lay.
Nowell, Nowell…
Then entered in those Wise Men three,
Fell reverently on their knees,
And offered there in his presence
Both gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Nowell, Nowell…
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
That hath made heaven and earth of naught,
And with His blood mankind hath bought.
Nowell, Nowell…
10
God rest you merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus 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…
From God that is our Father, the blessed Angels came,
Unto some certain shepherds, with tidings of the same;
That there was born in Bethlehem the Son of God by name.
And it's tidings of comfort and joy…
Go, fear not, said God's Angels, let nothing you affright,
For there is born in Bethlehem, of a pure Virgin bright,
One able to advance you, and throw down Satan quite.
And it's tidings of comfort and joy…
The shepherds at those tidings, rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a feeding in tempest storms of wind,
And straight they came to Bethlehemn, the son of God to find.
And it's tidings of comfort and joy…
11
Sweet baby, sleep! What ails my dear? What ails my darling thus to cry?
Be still, my child and lend thine ear to hear me sing thy lullaby.
My pretty lamb, forbear to weep; be still, my dear, sweet baby, sleep.
The wants that He did then sustain, have purchased wealth, my babe, for thee;
and by His torments and His pain thy rest and ease secured be.
My baby, then forbear to be; be still, my babe; sleep, baby, sleep.
12
Silent night, Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child,
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in Heavenly peace,
Sleep in Heavenly peace.
13
Here we come a-wassailing among the leaves so green,
Here we come a-wandering so fair to be seen:
Love and joy come to you and to you your wassail too,
And God bless you, and send you a happy new year.
God bless the master of this house, likewise the mistress too;
And all the little children that round the table go:
Love and joy…
Good Master and good Mistress, while you're sitting by the fire,
Pray think of us poor children who are wandering in the mire:
Love and joy…
14
Dormi, Jesu, mater ridet,
Quaetam dulcem somnum vivi
Dormi, Jesu, blandule.
Si non dormis, mater plorat,
Inter fila cantans orat,
blande, veni, somnule.
15
The boar's head in hand bear I, bedecked with bays and rosemary;
And I pray you, my masters, be merry, Quot estis in convivio:
Caput apri defero, Reddens laudes Domino.
The boar's head, as I understand, is the rarest dish in all this land,
which thus bedecked with a gay garland, let us servire cantico,
Caput apri defero…
Our steward hath provided this in honour of the King of bliss,
Which on this day to be served is, In Reginensi atrio,
Caput apri defero…
16
Past three o'clock, and a cold frosty morning
Past three o'clock, good morning masters, all!
Born is a a baby, gentle as may be,
son of th'eternal Father supernal.
Past three o'clock …
Seraph quire singeth, angel bell ringeth,
Hark how they rime it, time it and chime it.
Past three o'clock …
Mid earth rejoices hearing such voices
Ne'eretofore so well carolling Nowell.
17
Lullay my liking, my dear son, my sweeting;
Lullay my dear heart, mine own dear darling!
I saw a fair maiden sitten and sing.
She lulled a little child, a sweete lording.
Lullay my liking…
There was mickle melody at that childes birth.
Although they were in heaven's bliss they made mickle mirth.
Lullay my liking…
Angels bright they sang that night and saiden to that child,
"Blessed be thou, and so be she that is both meek and mild."
Lullay my liking…
Pray we now to that child and to his mother dear.
God grant them all his blessing that now maken cheer.
Lullay my liking…
18
Adam lay ybounden, bounden in a bond; four thousand winter thought he not long.
Ne had the apple taken been, the apple taken been, ne had our lady a-been heavene queen.
Blessed be the time, that apple taken was. Therefore we moun singen, Deo gracias!
19
What sweeter music can we bring than a carol,
for to sing the birth of this, our heavenly King?
Awake the voice! Awake the string!
We see him come and know him ours,
who with his sunshine and his showers,
turns all the patient ground to flowers.
Which we will give him, and bequeath
this holly and this ivy wreath,
to do him honour who's our King,
and Lord of all this revelling.
We see him come…
20
Angelus ad Virginem, subintrans in conclave
Virginis formidinem demulcens, inquit,
"Ave! Ave regina virginum; coeli terraeque Dominum,
concipies et paries intacta salutem hominum;
tu porta coela facta, medela criminum."
21
The holly and the ivy, when they are both full grown,
Of all the trees that are wood, the holly bears the crown.
The rising of the sun and the running of the deer,
the playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a blossom as white as a lily flower,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to be our sweet Saviour.
The rising of the sun…
The holly bears a berry as red as any blood,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to do poor sinners good.
The rising of the sun…
The holly bears a prickle, as sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ on Christmas day in the morn.
The rising of the sun…
The holly bears a bark, as bitter as any gall,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ for to redeem us all.
The rising of the sun…
22
O Little One sweet, O Little One mild,
thy Father's purpose thou hast fulfilled;
Thou cam'st here from heaven to mortal ken,
equal to be with us poor men.
O Little One sweet.
O Little One sweet, O Little One mild,
with joy thou hast the whole world filled,
Thou cam'st here from heavens domain
to bring men comfort in their pain.
O Little One sweet.
O Little One sweet, O Little One mild,
help us to do as thou hast willed.
Lo, all we have belongs to thee!
Ah, keep us in thy fealty.
O Little One sweet.
23
Qui creavit coelum, lully, lully lu, nascitur in stabulo, by, by, by, by, by,
Rex qui regit seculum, lully, lully, lu.
Joseph emit paniculum, mater involvit puerum, et ponit in praesipio.
Inter animalia, jacent mundi gaudia, dulcis super omnia.
Lactat mater domina, osculatur parvulum, et adorat dominum.
Roga mater filium, ut det nobis gaudium, in perenni gloria.
In sempiterna saecula, in eternum et ultra, det nobis sua gaudia.
24
I know a rose, it springeth from earth,
A tender shoot, as olden prophet singeth,
From Jesse came the root, that bore a blossom bright
In depth of chilly winter, about the dead of night.
Praise, honour to the Father, the Son and Spirit blest;
And Mary, God's own Mother, for help we make request;
Beseech thy dearest Son that He would he our refuge, and shrive us, every one.
25
In dulci jubilo now sing with hearts aglow!
Our delight and pleasure lies in praesipio,
Like sunshine is our treasure,
Matris in gremio, Alpha es et O.
O Jesu Parvule, for thee I long alway;
Comfort my heart's blindness, O puer optime,
With all thy loving kindness, O princeps gloriae,
Trahe me post te!
Ubi sunt gaudia in any place but there?
There are angels singing Nova cantica
And there the bells are ringing in Regis curia.
O that we were there.