I Come From Heuin To Tell

For Christmas Eve

Ane Sang of the Birth of Christ, with the tune of Baw Lulalaw

Words: Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her, by Martin Luther
From Joseph Klug's Gesangsbuch, 1535
Notes and Translations: Notes for Vom Himmel Hoch Da Komm Ich Her

Translator Unknown

Text based on Luke 2: 1-18

Music: "Baw Lulalaw", traditional Scottish song

Source: A Compendious Book of Godly and Spiritual Songs, Commonly Known as 'The Gude and godlie Ballatis,' Reprinted from the Edition of 1567 (Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1897), pp. 49-51.

1. I come from heuin to tell
The best nowellis that euer be fell,
To zow thir tythinges trew I bring,
And I will of them say and sing.

2. This day, to zow, is borne ane childe
Of Marie meik, and Virgin milde;
That blissit barne bening and kynde,
Sall zow reioyis, baith hart and mynde.

3. It is the Lord, Christ, God and Man,
He will do for zow quhat he can:
Him self zour Sauiour will be,
Fra sin and hell, to make zow fré.

4. He is zour rycht Saluatioun,
From euerlasting Dampnatioun:
That ze may Ring in gloir and blis,
For euer mair in heuin with his.

5. Ze sall him find, but mark or wying,
Full sempill in ane Cribe lying:
So lyis he quhilk zow hes wrocht,
And all this warld maid of nocht.

6. Lat vs reioyis and be blyith,
And with the Hyrdis go full swyith,
And sé quhat God of his grace hes done,
Throw Christ to bring vs to his throne.

7. My Saull and lyfe stand up and sé
Quha lyis in ane Cribbe of tré;
Quhat Babe is that, so gude and fair?
It is Christ, Goddis Sone and air.

8. Welcome now, gracious God of mycht,
To sinnaris vyle, pure and vnrycht.
Thou come to saif vs from distres,
How can we thank thy gentilnes?

9. O God that maid all Creature,
How art thow becumit sa pure,
That on the hay and stray will ly,
Amang the Assis, Oxin and Ky?

10. And war the warld ten tymes sa wyde,
Cled ouer with gold, and stanis of pryde,
Unworthie it war, zit to thé,
Under thy feit ane stule to be.

11. The Sylk and Sandell, thé to eis,
Ar hay, and sempill sweilling clais,
Quhairin thow gloris greitest King,
As thow in heuin war in thy Ring.

12. Thow tuke sic panis temporall,
To mak me ryche perpetuall.
For all this warldis welth and gude,
Can na thing ryche thy celsitude.

13. O my deir hart, zung Jesus sweit,
Prepare thy creddill in my Spreit,
And I sall rock thé in my hart,
And neuer mair fra thé depart.

14. Bot I sall pryse thé euer moir,
With sangis sweit vnto thy gloir:
The kneis of my hart sall I bow,
And sing that rycht Balulalow.

15. Gloir be to God Eternallie,
Quhilk gaif his onlie Sone for me:
The angellis Joyis for to heir,
The gracious gift of this new Zeir.

F I N I S.

Editor's Notes:

See:

• I Come From Heuin To Tell - 1578, From A Compendious Book of Psalms and Spiritual Songs, Commonly Known as “The Gude and Godlie Ballates.” (Edinburgh: Reprinted from the Edition of 1578, M.DCCC.LXVIII [1868]), pp. 43-45.

• I Come From Heuin To Tell, "Ane Sang of the Birth of Christ, with the Tune of Baw lulalaw," William Sandys, Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern from Ane Compendiovs Booke of Godly and Spiritvall Songs, collectit, &c. for avoyding of Sinne and Harlotrie, 15 verses); reprinted by Dalyell in Scotish Poems from the 16th Century, 1801 (London: Richard Beckley, 1833), pp. 27-29.

• I Come From Heaven To Tell, Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 from Ane Compendious Buik of Godlie Psalms and Spirituall Sangis. (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), pp. 82-84.

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