The Hymns and Carols of Christmas

The Seven Joys of Mary

Version 3

For Christmas.

Words and Music: English Traditional.

Source: Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #25, pp. 44-45.

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

Chorus
When He was Her first Son, good Man
And blessed may He be,
Both 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 Christ,
Making 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 Christ,
Making 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 Christ,
Reading 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 Christ,
Raising the dead to life. Chorus

6. The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of six
To see her own son Jesus Christ,
Rise from the Crucifix. Chorus

7. The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of seven
To see her own son Jesus Christ,
Ascending into heaven. Chorus

Sheet Music from Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #25, pp. 44-45.

025a-Seven_Joys.jpg (151129 bytes) 025b-Seven_Joys.jpg (75420 bytes)

Sheet Music from Richard R. Terry, Old Christmas Carols. Part One. (London: Burns, Oates & Washbourne Ltd., n.d., ca. 1923), Carol 11, p. 15.

Terry gives: “Old English Carol. Words and tune traditional.” The only difference:

Verse 1, Line 3: To see the blessed Jesus Christ

 Note:

There are numerous carols enumerating the joys of Mary (including five, seven, ten, and 12), including:

  1. Off The 5 Joyes Of Owr Lady (Wright, 1847)

  2. The Ferst Joye As I Zu Telle ("Joyes Fyve") (Sandys, 1833)

  3. The Ferste Joye, As I 3ou Telle (Wright, 1856)

  4. The First Good Joy Our Mary Had (Sandys) (a.k.a. Joyes Seven; in total, 12 Joys - 7 from Sandys, 5 from Husk) (with sheet music and notes)

  5. The Five Joys (Rickert)

  6. The Five Joys of the Virgin (Wright, 1845)

  7. The Seven Joys of Mary - Version 1 (Bramley & Stainer) (with sheet music)

  8. The Seven Joys Of Mary - Version 2 (Shaw and Dearmer) (with sheet music)

  9. The Seven Joys of Mary - RR Terry (with sheet music) [this page]

  10. The Seven Joys Of Mary (John Jacob Niles) (with note)

  11. The Seven Rejoices Of Mary (RR Terry) (with sheet music)

  12. The Ten Joys Of Christmas (Sharp) (with sheet music and note)

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

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