Scripture Verse

She brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

Introduction

portrait
John Stainer (1840–1901)

Words: Au­thor un­known. Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by Hen­ry R. Bram­ley in Christ­mas Ca­rols New and Old (Lon­don: No­vel­lo, Ew­er & Com­pa­ny, 1871), num­ber 33.

Music: John Stain­er (1840–1901) (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Bram­ley (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

The vir­gin stills the cry­ing
Of Je­sus, sleep­less ly­ing;
And sing­ing for His plea­sure,
Thus calls up­on her trea­sure,

Refrain

My Dar­ling, do not weep,
My Je­su, sleep!

O Lamb, my love in­vit­ing,
O Star, my soul de­light­ing,
O Flow­er of mine own bear­ing,
O Jew­el past com­par­ing!

Refrain

My Child, of Might in­dwell­ing,
My Sweet, all sweets ex­cel­ling,
Of bliss the Foun­tain flow­ing,
The Day­spring ever glow­ing,

Refrain

My Joy, my Exul­ta­tion,
My spirit’s Con­so­la­tion;
My son, my spouse, my brother,
O list­en to Thy mo­ther!

Refrain

Say, wouldst Thou heav’n­ly sweet­ness,
Or love of an­swer­ing meet­ness?
Or is fit mu­sic want­ing?
Ho! An­gels, raise your chant­ing!

Refrain

illustration
Christmas Carols New and Old, 1871