Grattan Flood also sent this one to the Oxford anthologists. While it has been sung traditionally in Wexford since at least the mid-19th century it does not appear in either Garland. I was inspired by Rosanne, Rhiannon and Tom to write this close- harmony arrangement.
lyrics
Christmas Day is come let’s all prepare for mirth,
Which fills the Heaven and earth at his amazing birth, Tho’ all the joyous Angels in strife and hurry fly,
With glories and Hosannas, holy, holy, they all cry.
In heaven the church triumphant adores with all her choirs, The Militant on Earth with humble faith admires.
But how can we rejoice should we not rather mourn,
To see the hope of Nations thus in a stable born,
Where is his crown and scepter, where is his throne sublime, Where is his train and majesty that should the stars outshine, Is there no sumptuous Palace nor no Inn at all,
To lodge his heavenly Mother but in a filthy stall?
Cease ye blessed angels such clamerous joys to make,
Tho Midnight silence favours the Shepherds are awake, And you O glorious star that with new splendour brings, From the remotest parts the learned Eastern Kings,
Turn some way else your lustre your rays elsewhere display, Herod will slay the babe and Christ must straight away.
Alas to teeming nature we offer rules in vain,
When faced with such a Prodigy it can’t itself contain,
The rocks were split asunder to grieve our saviour’s death, And at his resurrection the dead sprung from the Earth, Can we now expect that on his joyful birth,
The creatures should conceal their triumph and their mirth.
Then let our joys abound now all his grief is O’er,
His victory we celebrate his suffering we deplore, This was the toil and slavery that getting was for us, Your welcome twice O welcome divine savior Jesus, Your Christmass is in glory your torments are all past, What e’er betide us now grant us the same at last. Your Christmass is in glory your torments are all past, What e’er betide us now grant us the same at last.
credits
from The Wexford Carols,
released November 18, 2014
Tom Jones, Rosanne Cash, Rhiannon Giddens, Caitríona O'Leary, vocals
Caitríona is known for her performances of Early Music and Traditional Irish song. She has recorded over twenty critically
acclaimed albums. The Wexford Carols with Tom Jones, Rosanne Cash, and Rhiannon Giddens, reached #1 on Billboard.
She has performed at Royal Albert Hall, Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall, Halle Handel Festival, Beethovenfest Bonn, Utrecht Early Music Festival, etc....more
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