Grene Growith The Holy

For Christmas

Words attributed to King Henry VIII, XVI Cent.
British Museum. Manuscript MS. Addit. 31922.

Compare: Green Groweth The Holly, So Doth The Ivy (Chambers & Sidgwick)
Green Grow'th The Holly
See Notes Under The Holly And The Ivy

Source: Richard Greene, A Selection of English Carols (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1962), #93, pp. 160-161.

Grene growith the holy,
So doth the ive,
Thow wynter blastys blow never so hye,
Grene groth the holy.

1 As the holy grouth grene
And never chaungyth hew,
So I am, ever hath bene,
Unto my lady trew.

    Grene growith the holy, etc.

2 As the holy grouth grene
With ive all alone
When flowerys cannot be sene,
And grenewode levys be gone.

    Grene growith the holy, etc.

3 Now unto my lady
Promyse to her I make,
Frome all other only
To her I me betake.

    Grene growith the holy, etc.

4 Adew, myne owne lady,
Adew, my specyall,
Who hath my hart trewly,
Be suere, and ever shall.

    Grene growith the holy, etc.

Note From Greene:

In the manuscript, the burden was written three times, once for each voice.

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