I The Angel Am Of God

For Christmas

Words: Je suis l'Archange de Dieu,  from “Les Noëls Bressans”

English Translation by K. W. Simpson.

Music from “Les Noëls Bressans”

Source: Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #50, pp. 22-23.

1. I, the Angel and of God!
     (O simple people hearken!)
In this place ye often have trod
     Your music now awaken!
          Christ is born on earth this day!
          Lift your voices! Tune your lay!

Chorus.

He is come, come, come!
     See Him lie, lie, lie!
He is come!
     See Him lie!
O so *comely, Brothers!
Fairer than all others!

2. Shepherds lift your pipes and play!
     Leave your crooks, uncaring!
Raise your voices, cry: 'NOE!'**
     All our gladness sharing.
          Cried together now, 'NOE!
          Christ is born this happy day!”

Cold and bare, bare, bare,
     He doth lie, lie, lie!
Cold and bare,
     He doth lie!
Cold, and barely clothed,
Mary's Son beloved!

3. Shepherds gladly look around
     See the Angels winging!
Join the happy, jucund sound,
     Sing as they are singing!
Shepherds, now the Babe adore,
Earth of joy could hold no more!

To the stall,stall,stall
     Run ye all, all, all!
To the stall,
     Run ye all!
Other parts forestalling.
**'NOE! NOE!'calling!

4. Leave your flocks, my brothers all,
     Sing in happy chorus!
Jesus in that quiet stall
     Soon will be before us!
Come and see, with eyes of faith,
Jesus now is born on earth!

That ye may, may, may,
     Sing in joy, joy, joy
That ye may
     Sing in joy,
That amazing wonder
In the Manger yonder!

5. Shepherds tho' He be so poor,
     Lying there so lowly,
Ye may happily adore
     Christ is here before you!
He is Prince of all the skies!
Majesty within Him lives!

Born as King, King, King,
     See him here, here, here!
Born as King,
     See Him here!
And, in asking of Him,
We but prove we love Him!

Note from Rev. Terry:

In the choruses the translator has imitated (skillfully I think) the childlike puns of the original. [Ed.]

Footnotes by Rev. Terry:

*For word-play in the original, see Preface [Ed.]

** Pronounced No-ay.

Sheet Music from Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #50, pp. 22-23.

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