A virgin most pure, as the prophets do tell,
Harth brought forth a baby, as it hath befel,
To be our Redeemer from death, hell, and sin
Which Adam's transgression hath wrapped us in.
 
Aye and therefore be merry, rejoice and be you merry
Set sorrows aside;
Christ Jesus our Saviour was born on this tide.
 
At Bethlem in Jewry a city there was,
Where Joseph and Mary together did pass,
And there to be taxed with many one mo',
For Caesar commanded the same should be so:
Aye and therefore be merry, rejoice and be you merry
Set sorrows aside;
Christ Jesus our Saviour was born on this tide.
 
But when they had ent'red the city so fair,
A number of people so mighty was there,
That Joseph and Mary, whose substance was small,
Could find in the inn there no lodging at all.
Aye and therefore be merry, rejoice and be you merry
Set sorrows aside;
Christ Jesus our Saviour was born on this tide.
 
Then they were constrain'd in a stable to lie,
Where oxen and asses they used for to tie;
Their lodging so simple, the held it no scorn,
But against the next morning our Saviour was born:
Aye and therefore be merry, rejoice and be you merry
Set sorrows aside;
Christ Jesus our Saviour was born on this tide.
 
The King of all glory to the world being brought,
Small store of fine linen to wrap him was sought;
And when she had swaddled her young son so sweet,
Within an oxmanger she laid him to sleep:
Aye and therefore be merry, rejoice and be you merry
Set sorrows aside;
Christ Jesus our Saviour was born on this tide.
 
Then God sent an angel from heaven so high,
To certain poor shepherds in fields where they lie,
And bade them no longer in sorrow to stay,
Because that our Saviour was born on this day.
Aye and therefore be merry, rejoice and be you merry
Set sorrows aside;
Christ Jesus our Saviour was born on this tide.
 
Then presently after, the shepherds did spy
A number of angels that stood in the sky;
They joyfully talked, and sweetly did sing,
To God be all glory, our heavenly King.
Aye and therefore be merry, rejoice and be you merry
Set sorrows aside;
Christ Jesus our Saviour was born on this tide.