Down In Yon Forest

For Christmas

Traditional English Version, from Derbyshire, XIX Century.

Tune and text collected by
Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872-1958
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer

Compare the version collected by John Jacob Niles, Down In Yon Forest

1. Down in yon forest there stands a hall:
   The bells of Paradise I heard them ring:
It's covered all over with purple and pall
   And I love my Lord Jesus above anything.

2 In that hall there stands a bed:
   The bells of Paradise I heard them ring:
It's covered all over with scarlet so red:
   And I love my Lord Jesus above anything.

3 At the bed-side there lies a stone:
   The bells of Paradise I heard them ring:
Which the sweet Virgin Mary knelt upon:
   And I love my Lord Jesus above anything.

4 Under that bed there runs a flood:
   The bells of Paradise I heard them ring:
The one half runs water, the other runs blood:
   And I love my Lord Jesus above anything.

5 At the bed's foot there grows a thorn:
   The bells of Paradise I heard them ring:
Which ever blows blossom since he was born:
   And I love my Lord Jesus above anything.

6 Over that bed the moon shines bright:
   The bells of Paradise I heard them ring:
Denoting our Saviour was born this night:
   And I love my Lord Jesus above anything.

Note: The R. Vaughan Williams arrangement for SATB can be obtained from Stainer & Bell, Ltd., London, either as a part of Eight Traditional English Carols or separately as Down in yon forest.

Down In Yon Forest:
Tien Arbaren
in Esperanto! by Gene Keyes

An Additional 6 Christmas Carols by Gene at Jula Karolaro

Plus 148 Christmas Carols in Esperanto at Kristnaskaj Kantoj

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