For Christmas

Words: David Newman, editor of Art Song Central

Released under the Creative Commons License

Music: Bernard de la Monnoye (1641-1728)
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF

Billy, get your little drum
Robin, bring your fife and come,
As we hear their joyful sound
Turelurelu patapatapan
As we hear their joyful sound
Let our glad Noëls resound!
 

Hear the ancient song now rings
Out to praise the King of Kings.
As we listen to the song
Turelurelu patapatapan
As we listen to the song
Let us join and sing along!
 

Satan now has lost his claim
For the grace of Jesus came
With the sound of caroling
Turelurelu patapatapan
With the sound of caroling
Let us all our triumph sing.

God and man now join as one,
As the fife and drum have done,
As we listen to them play
Turelurelu patapatapan
As we listen to them play
Let us sing of Christmas Day!

Note:

Mr. Newman sent these lyrics on Dec. 6, 2010, noting that he tried to more closely reflect the original rhyme scheme and meaning.

Mr. Newman has composed contemporary settings of a number of Christmas hymns and carols. He is editor of Art Song Central.

• Pat A Pan – Version 1 (Translator Unknown)

• Pat A Pan – Version 2 (Translator Unknown)

• Pat A Pan – Version 3 (Translation by Keyte and Parrott, editors of The New Oxford Book of Carols, copyright 1992)

• Pat A Pan - Version 4 (Willie Take Your Little Drum, From John Brush's 1988 The Children's Book of Carols)

• Pat A Pan - Version 5 (Translation by Percy Dearmer)

• Patapan by David Newman

• Hob & Cobin, Yule Is Come (George R. Woodward)

• Willie, Take Your Little Drum (Janet E. Tobitt)