A Carol for Christmas Day
Words: English Traditional
Music: From John Stafford Smith's “Musica Antiqua”
Source: William Henry Husk, Songs of the Nativity (London: John Camden Hotten, 1868)
Versions
I Am Here, Syre Christmasse -
Sandys, 1833
I am here, syre Crystesmass - Thomas
Wright, 1841
Sir Christmas - Vizetelly, 1851; Sylvester, 1861
I Am
Here, Sir Christhismas - Husk, 1868
I Am Here, Sir Christemas - Rickert,
1910
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Who is there, that singeth so, Noel,
Noel, Noel?
1. I am here, Sir Christhismas,
Welcome, my lord Sir Christhismas,
Welcome to all both more or less;1
Come near, Noel.
2. Dieu vous garde, beau Sire,
tidings I you bring,
A maid hath born a Child full young,
The which causeth for to sing,
Noel.
3. Christ is now born of a pure maid,
In an ox stall He is laid,
Wherefore sing we all at a braid,2
Noel.
4. Buvez bien paar toute la
compagnie,
Make good cheer and be right merry,
And sing with us now joyfully,
Noel.
Notes:
1. Great and small. Return
2. Suddenly. Return
Husk's Note:
This carol is from the before-mentioned manuscript, formerly Ritson's, and now in the British Museum, of the early part of Henry VIII's reign [15009-1547]. It has the peculiarity of having scraps of French incorporated into it, and this may perhaps point to the period at which Henry met Francis I on the celebrated “Field of the Cloth of Gold,” as that of its production. The music, in three parts (soprano, alto, and tenor), which accompanies the carol in the manuscript, will be found in John Stafford Smith's “Musica Antiqua,” i. 26.
