When Righteous Joseph

Version 3;
Compare When Righteous Joseph Wedded Was - Version 1 (Davies Gilbert)
When Righteous Joseph Wedded Was - Version 2 (William Sandys)

Words and Music: Traditional

Source: Martin Shaw and Percy Dearmer, The English Carol Book, First Series (London: A. R. Mowbray & Co., Ltd., 1913), Carol #32
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF

1. When righteous Joseph wedded was
To Israel's Hebrew maid,
The Angel Gabriel came from Heaven,
And to the Virgin said:
"Hail, blessed Mary, full of grace,
The Lord remain in thee;
Thou shalt conceive and bear a Son,
Our Saviour for to be":

Chorus
Then sing you all, both great and small,
Now well, now well, now well;
We may rejoice to hear the voice
Of the Angel Gabriel.

2. Thus Mary and her husband king
Together did remain,
Until the time of Jesus' birth,
As Scriptures doth make plain.
As mother, wife, and virtuous maid,
Our Saviour sweet conceived;
And in due time to bring us him,
Of whom we were bereaved; Chorus

3. Sing praises all, both young and old,
To him that wrought such things;
And all without the means of man,
Sent us the King of kings,
Who is of such a spirit blest,
That with his might did quell
The world, the flesh, and by his death
Did conquer death and hell: Chorus

Sheet Music from Martin Shaw and Percy Dearmer, The English Carol Book, First Series (London: A. R. Mowbray & Co., Ltd., 1913), Carol #32