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I Sing of a Maiden That Is Makeless

[trad. arr. Shirley and Dolly Collins]

Shirley Collins sang the carol I Sing of a Maiden That Is Makeless on her 1974 Topic album, Adieu to Old England. This was also included in her anthology Fountain of Snow. She recorded it again with the Young Tradition for their album The Holly Bears the Crown. This recording was also included in her anthology Within Sound. A.L. Lloyd noted on the first album:

The text of what The Oxford Book of Carols calls “this famous little classic” comes from the Sloane Manuscript of the first half of the fifteenth century. The Oxford Book goes on: “If ever there was a tune, it has been lost.” Many composers have had a go at setting it. This tune and arrangement is by Dolly Collins.

Charlotte Greig sang Makeless on her 2005 album Quite Silent.

Diana Collier sang I Sing of a Maiden That Is Makeless unaccompanied on her 2015 album All Mortals ar Rest.

Lyrics

Shirley Collins sings I Sing of a Maiden That Is Makeless

I sing of a maiden that is makeless,
King of all kings, to her son she chose.

He came all so still where his mother was,
As dew in April that falleth on the grass.

He came all so still to his mother’s bower,
As dew in April that falleth on the flower.

He came all so still where his mother lay,
As dew in April that falleth on the spray.

Mother and maiden was never none but she.
Well may such a lady God’s mother be.