Words and Music: Traditional English
Collected in Derbyshire
Melody Line: MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF
(Verse Only)
Meter: 88 88

Compare: Let All That Are To Mirth Inclined (From Gilbert, With Notes)

Source: R. Vaughan Williams, Eight Traditional English Carols (London: Stainer & Bell, 1919; Ref. CH104), #7

1. All you that are to mirth inclined,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us hath done
In sending His beloved Son.

2. Let all your songs and praises be
Unto His heavenly Majesty,
And evermore among your mirth
Remember Christ our Saviour's birth.

3. The five-and-twentieth of December,
Good cause have we for to remember,
In Bethlehem, upon this morn,
There was our blessed Saviour born.

4. The night before that happy tide
The spotless Virgin and her guide,
Went long time seeking up and down,
To find them lodging in the town.

5. But mark how all things came to pass,
The inns and lodgings so filled was,
That they could have no room at all
But in a silly ox's stall.

6. Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep
Their herds and flocks of feeding sheep,
To whom God's angel did appear,
Which put the shepherds in great fear.

7. "Prepare and go," the angel said,
"To Bethlehem, be not afraid,
There shall you find, this blessed morn,
The princely Babe, sweet Jesus, born."

8. With thankful hearts and joyful mind,
The shepherds went this Babe to find,
And as the heavenly angel told,
They did our Saviour Christ behold.

9. No costly robes nor rich attire
Did Jesus Christ our Lord desire;
No music nor sweet harmony,
Till glorious angels from on high.

10. Did in a melodious manner sing
Praises unto our Heavenly King,
All honour, glory, might and praise,
They did to Christ our Saviour raise.

Note from Williams:

The first verse only was sung with the melody - subsequent verses taken from "Old Castleton Christmas Carols" edited by the late Rev. W. H. Shawcross. Several verses have been omitted. For a different version of the text with another tune, see Sharp, English Folk-carols, VIII [The Sinner's Redemption]. Melody and first verse of text from Mr. Hall, Castleton, Derbyshire.

Note: The full arrangement is available from Stainer & Bell; it is in their current catalog as of August 6, 2006.