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How Far Is It to Bethlehem?

[ Roud - ; Frances Chesterton (1869-1938)]

How Far Is It to Bethlehem? is a poem by Frances Alice Blogg Chesterton published in 1917.

Shirley Collins, accompanied by her sister Dolly on portative organ, sang Is It Far to Bethlehem? in a 1965 demo recording that was included in 2002 on Shirley’s Fledg’ling anthology Within Sound and in 2006 on Shirley and Dolly’s Fledg’ling collection of demos and live recordings, Snapshots.

The Young Tradition with Shirley and Dolly Collins recorded Is It Far to Bethlehem? in 1969 for their planned album The Holly Bears the Crown. The recordings where then shelved because of the Young Tradition’s break-up, and the album was finally released in 1995 on the Fledg’ling label.

Johnny Coppin sang How Far Is It to Bethlehem? on his 2016 album All on a Winter’s Night. He noted:

My setting of a poem by Frances Chesterton.

Shirley Collins sang How Far Is It to Bethlehem? in 2023 on her Domino album Archangel Hill. She noted:

This favourite, tender carol was written by Frances Chesterton, wife of the author G.K. Chesterton. It was set to a traditional English folk tune—Sweet England—by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Lyrics

Shirley Collins sings How Far Is It to Bethlehem?

Is it far to Bethlehem? Not very far.
Shall we find the stable room, lit by a star?
Shall we see the little child? Is he within?
If we lift the wooden latch, may we go in?.

May we stroke the creatures there, ox, ass or sheep?
May we peep like them and see Jesus asleep?
If we touch his tiny hand, will He awake?
Will He know we’ve come so far, just for His sake?

Great kings have precious gifts, and we have naught;
Little smiles and little tears are all we brought.
For poor weary children Mary must weep,
Here, on his bed of straw, sleep, Jesus, sleep..

God in His mother’s arms, babes in the byre,
Sleep, as they sleep who find their hearts’ desire.