Unto Us Is Born A Son

For Christmas

Version 2

Words: "Puer Nobis Nascitur," Authorship Unknown, Trier MS, Latin, 15th Century
Translator: George Ratcliffe Woodward, 1859-1934, Alt.
(Hutchins only states: "Tr. from the Latin")

Compare: Unto Us Is Born A Son - Version 1
Unto Us A Child Is Born

Music: Puer Nobis Nascitur, Anonymous, from Piae Cantiones, 1582
Arr. by Geoffrey Shaw
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF / XML
Meter:  76777

Source: Carol #708, Rev. Charles Lewis Hutchins, Carols Old and Carols New (Boston: Parish Choir, 1916)

1. Unto us is born a Son,
King of Quires supernal:
See on earth His life begun,
Of lords the Lord eternal,
Of lords the Lord eternal.

2. Christ, from heav'n descending low
Comes on earth a stranger;
Ox and ass their owner know,
Be cradled in the manger,
Be cradled in the manger.

3. This did Herod sore affray,
And grievously bewilder
So he gave the word to slay,
And slew the little childer,
And slew the little childer.

4. Of His love and mercy mild
This the Christmas story;
And O that Mary's gentle child
Might lead us up to glory!
Might lead us up to glory!

5. O and A, and A and O,
Cum cantibus in choro,
Let our merry organ go,
Benedicamus Domino.

Sheet Music from Charles L. Hutchins, Carols Old and Carols New (Boston: Parish Choir, 1916)

Earthly Delights: Xmas Carols

This carol is a loose translation of the Latin song Puer Nobis Nascitur. This song was used in the medieval liturgy and was found in the 14th century German manuscript, the Moosburg Gradual, in a 15th century Trier manuscript and in the 16th century Finnish collection Piae Cantiones. The English translation used here was made by Percy Dearmer for the 1928 The Oxford Book of Carols. Another commonly used translations is by G. R. Woodward.

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