> Maddy Prior > Songs > The Golden Carol
The Golden Carol
[
Roud -
; Ballad Index OBB107
; words anon., 15th century, melody Ralph Vaughan Williams]
Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band sang The Golden Carol in 2010 on their Park CD Vaughan Williams: Carols, Songs & Hymns.
Lyrics
Maddy Prior sings The Golden Carol
Now is Christemas y-come,
Father and Son together in one,
Holy Ghost, as ye be one, in fere-a
God send us a good new year-a.
I will you sing with all my might,
Of a child so fair in sight,
A maiden bore on Christmas night so still-a,
As it was his will-a.
Three kingès came from Galilee
To Bethlehem, that fair city,
For to offer and to see by night-a,
It was a full fair sight-a.
As they came with their offering,
They met with Herod, that moody king,
He askèd them of their coming that tide-a,
And thus to them he said-a:
“From whence come ye, you kingès three?”
“Out of the East, as ye may see,
To seek him that ever shall be by right-a,
Lord and king and knight-a.”
They took their leave, both old and young,
Of Herod, that moody king,
And forth they went with their offering by light-a,
By star that shone so bright-a.
When they came into the place,
Where Jesus with him mother was,
Offer’d they up with great solace in fere-a,
Gold, incense and myrrh-a.
Kneel we now here a-down;
Pray we in good devotioun,
To that King of great renown for grace-a,
In heav’n to have a place-a.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Tim McElwaine for Maddy Prior’s lyrics.