December 28, 2004

a carol for the fourth day of christmas

This is one of my favorites. I imagine that this is a conflation between Christian and Celtic...or something like that. It is a way of looking into nature and finding something that reminds one of Christ...perhaps readdressing an older symbol or two. It is nifty.

The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flower
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Saviour
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly and the ivy
Now both are full well grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

I'll keep posting these all season. What are your favorites? Are there any you did not get to sing this year that you wish you had?

Posted by tripp at December 28, 2004 07:56 AM | TrackBack
Comments

I love that carol, but it's a workout to sing! Wide range and no good places to breathe within the verses.

It's apparently at least 300 years old, the earliest printing being reported on a 1710 broadside. But my guess, like yours, is that the imagery is way older than that, and way older than Christ. Just, in 2004 terms, "repurposed."

Posted by: Megan at December 28, 2004 08:22 AM

That one is fun to sing... but the chorus drives me a bit nuts. What about the singing in the choir? What about the running of the deer? Ah well.

I have a million and ten favorite Christmas carols... In the Bleakmid Winter, O Little Town of Bethlehem, A Stable Lamp is Lighted... I"ll post one appropriate for today over at my page.

Posted by: Susie at December 28, 2004 10:52 AM