The Snow Lay On The Ground

Music: Edvard Grieg
Adapted and arranged by Nicola A. Montani

1. The snow lay on the ground, the star shone bright,
When Christ our Lord was born, On Christmas night.
Venite adoremus Dominum;
Venite adoremus Dominum;

Venite adoremus Dominum;
Venite adoremus Dominum.

2. 'Twas Mary, Virgin pure, Of holy Anne,
That brought into this world the God made man.
She laid Him in a stall At Bethlehem,
The ass and oxen share the roof with them.

Venite adoremus Dominum;
Venite adoremus Dominum.

3. Saint Joseph, too, was by To tend the child;
To guard Him and protect His Mother mild;
The angels hovered round And sang this song:
Venite adoremus Dominum;

Venite adoremus Dominum;
Venite adoremus Dominum.

4. And, thus, that manger poor became a throne;
For He whom Mary bore was God the Son.
O come then, let us join the heavenly host,
To praise the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Venite adoremus Dominum;
Venite adoremus Dominum.

In both versions printed by Hutchins, the verses appear thus:

1. The snow lay on the ground, the star shone bright,
When Christ our Lord was born, On Christmas night.

2. 'Twas Mary, Virgin pure, Of holy Anne,
That brought into this world the God made man.

3. She laid Him in a stall At Bethlehem,
The ass and oxen share the roof with them.

4. Saint Joseph, too, was by To tend the child;
To guard Him and protect His Mother mild.

5. The angels hovered round And sang this song:
Venite adoremus Dominum.

6. And, thus, that manger poor became a throne;
For He whom Mary bore was God the Son.

7. O come then, let us join the heavenly host,
To praise the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

8. Venite adoremus Dominum;
Venite adoremus Dominum.

Sheet Music by Edvard Grieg, adapted and arranged by Nicola A. Montani, ed., The St. Gregory Hymnal And Catholic Choir Book. Philadelphia: St. Gregory Guild, 1940, #8, p. 11.

The structure of verses follows that of Hutchins.