As Up The Wood I Took My Way

Words: Selwyn Image

Music: Martin Shaw

Source: Martin Shaw and Percy Dearmer, The English Carol Book, First Series (London: A. R. Mowbray & Co. Ltd., 1913), Carol #4

1. As up the wood I took my way
The oaks were brown and bare,
And all about the snow was white
The snow was white, The snow was white;
And all about the snow was white,
And bitter blew the air.

2. As up the wood I took my way
The night began to fall,
When out a star shone fair and bright,
Shone fair and bright, Shone fair and bright;
When out a star shone fair and bright,
And I heard a sweet voice call.

3. “Come on, come on, thou weary man,”
The sweet voice cried to me,
“For in yon shed where the cattle are,
The cattle are, The cattle are;
For in yon shed where the cattle are,
I have good sight for thee.”

4. Then suddenly grew the snow to rose,
The bare oaks grew to green,
The bitter wind was a gentle air,
A gentle air, A gentle air;
The bitter wind was a gentle air,
And I felt not fear or teen.

5. For golden Gabriel took my hand,
And brought me to the shed,
Where mid the cattle sat Queen Mary,
Sat Queen Mary, Sat Queen Mary;
Where 'mid the cattle sat Queen Mary,
And lock'd Lord Jesus' bed.

6. Then hie! Good shepherds and masters mine,
We'll cease to moil and grieve;
For this brave Babe is the Lord of all,
The Lord of all, The Lord of all;
For this brave Babe is the Lord of all,
And this is Christmas Eve!

Sheet Music: Martin Shaw and Percy Dearmer, The English Carol Book, First Series (London: A. R. Mowbray & Co., Ltd., 1913), Carol #4

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