Wexford Carol
Language: English
Good people all, this Christmas time, 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 the morn There was a bless'd 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 every door repelled, alas! As long foretold, their refuge all Was but a humble oxen stall. Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep; To whom God's angles did appear Which put the shepherds in great fear. "Prepare and go", the angles 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 wet the babe to find, And as God's angel has foretold, They did our saviour Christ behold. Within a manger he was laid, And by his side the virgin maid Attending to the Lord of Life, Who came on earth to end all strife. Good people all, this Christmas time, Consider well and bear in mind What our good God for us has done, In sending his beloved Son.
Authorship:
- from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , Irish [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by John Milford Rutter, CBE (b. 1945), "Wexford Carol" [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Thomas Jaenicke
This text was added to the website: 2004-03-29
Line count: 36
Word count: 226