> Steeleye Span > Songs > Chanticleer

Chanticleer

[trad. arr. Steeleye Span]

This song was sung by Maddy Prior on Steeleye Span’s CD Winter. She commented in the album’s sleeve notes:

Chanticleer is the cockerel proclaiming the dawn, of day or a new age. This piece was printed im Devonius Augustitianae Flamma by William Austin in 1635 and is adapted from an English traditional melody.

Lyrics

All this night shrill Chanticleer,
Day’s proclaiming trumpeter
Claps his wings and loudly cries,
Mortals, mortals, awake and rise.

Chorus (after each verse):
See a wonder heaven is under;
From the earth is risen a sun,
Shines all night though day be done.

Wake O earth, wake everything,
Wake and hear the joy I bring;
Wake and joy for all this night,
Heaven and every twinkling light.

All men stare amazing
Still now stand a-gazing.
Angels, powers and all that be,
Wake and joy this sun to see.

Hail, O sun, O blessed light,
Sent into the world by night.
Let thy rays and heavenly powers
Shine in these dark souls of ours.