Awake And Hear My Story

Words: George Ratcliffe Woodward

 Music: Setting from B. Besius (1605), as given by Layriz.
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF

Source: Charles Wood and George Ratcliffe Woodward, The Cambridge Carol-Book, Being Fifty-Two Songs For Christmas, Easter, And Other Seasons (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1924), #3

1. Awake, and hear my story!
    When God on Christmas morn,
Th' eternal Lord of glory,
    Of Mary Maid was born.
Seeking the King of ages,
    There journ'd from afar
Three kingly Eastern Sages,
By lengthy daily stages,
    Led westward by a Star.

2. The Star, it stood and pointed
    Toward the stable bare,
Wherein the Lord's Anointed
    And eke His Mother were.
Opening each his coffer,
    Balthazar giveth myrrh;
While Melchior doth offer
Gold-ore; see Gaspar proffer
    Incense, the gum of fir.

3. So go we and adore Him,
    Who was or time began:
So worship we afore Him,
    Who stoops to die for man.
Welcome we too that Mother,
    Thou Cherub higher, blest
As woman ne'er was other,
Who made the Lord or Brother,
    And rock'd her God to rest.

Sheet Music

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