The Seven Joys of Mary

Version 1
The Seven Joys Of Mary - Version 2
The Seven Joys Of Mary - John Jacob Niles
The First Good Joy Our Mary Had (Sandys)
The Ferst Joye As I Zu Telle
Off The 5 Joyes Of Owr Lady

1. The very first joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of one
To see her blessed Jesus
When He was first her Son
When He was first her Son.

Chorus
When He was Her first Son, Good Lord;
And happy may we be,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
To all eternity

2. The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of two
To see her own son Jesus,
To make the lame to go.
To make the lame to go. Chorus

3. The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of three
To see her own son Jesus,
To make the blind to see.
To make the blind to see. Chorus

4. The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of four
To see her own son Jesus,
To read the Bible o'er.
To read the Bible o'er. Chorus

5. The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of five
To see her own son Jesus,
To bring the dead alive.
To bring the dead alive. Chorus

6. The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of six
To see her own son Jesus,
Upon the Crucifix. [1]
Upon the Crucifix. Chorus

7. The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of seven
To see her own son Jesus,
To wear the crown of Heaven
To wear the crown of Heaven Chorus

Praise God in the wilderness,
And glory by
Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
Through all eternity.

1. Or: 'Rise from' the Crucifix. Return

Sheet Music from Bramley & Stainer

Sheet Music from Ralph Dunstan, The Cornish Song Book (London: Reid Bros., Ltd., 1929), p. 84.

See also:

• The Five Joys (Rickert)

• Off The 5 Joyes Of Owr Lady (Wright)

• The Seven Joys Of Mary - Version 2  (Shaw and Dearmer)

• The Seven Joys Of Mary - John Jacob Niles

• The First Good Joy Our Mary Had (a.k.a. Joyes Seven; in total, 12 Joys - 7 from Sandys, 5 from Husk)

• The Ferst Joye As I Zu Telle (5 Joys from Sandys)

• The Ten Joys Of Mary

Note:

This is one of many "counting" songs among the hymns and carols of Christmas. See the notes to the Twelve Days of Christmas.