The Christ Child’s Lullaby - Gaelic
Vocals & Keyboard - Jennifer Rose
My love, my pride, my treasure-o, my wonder new and pleasure-o,
My son, my beauty ever you! Who am I to bear you here?
The cause of talk and tale am I, the cause of greatest fame am I,
The cause of greatest care on high to have for mine the king of all.
And though you are the king of all, they sent you to a manger stall,
When at your feet they all should fall and glorify my child the King.
Kentucky Wassail - Traditional
Vocals & Tambourine - Jennifer Rose
Wassail, wassail all over the town! Our cup it is white and our ale it is brown.
Our cup is made from the old oak tree and our ale is made in Kentucky!
So it’s joy be to you and a jolly wassail!
O good man and good wife, are you within? Pray lift the latch and let us come in.
We see you a-sitting at the boot o’ the fire, not a-thinkin’ of us in the mud and the mire!
So it’s joy be to you and a jolly wassail!
O, where is the servant with the silly little pin to open the latch and let us come in?
For here in the draught it is our desire to nibble on a cheese and a toast by the fire!
So it’s joy be to you and a jolly wassail!
There was an old maid and she lived in a house, and she had for a pet a tiny wee mouse.
O, the house had a stove and the house was warm, and a little bit of liquor won’t do no harm!
So it’s joy be to you and a jolly wassail!
Oh a man in York drank his sack from a pail, but all we ask is a wee wassail.
O, husband and wife, alack, we part. God bless this house from the bottom of our heart!
So it’s joy be to you and a jolly wassail!
The Holly and the Ivy – English
Vocals & Guitar – Jennifer Rose
O, the holly and the ivy, when they are both full-grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood, the holly tree bears the crown.
O, the rising of the sun and the running of the deer
And the playing of the merry organ, sweet singing all in the choir.
Now the holly tree bears a blossom as white as any flower
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to be our sweet savior.
Now the holly tree bears a berry as red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to do poor sinners good.
Now the holly tree bears a prickle as sharp as any thorn
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ on Christ-i-mas day in the morn.
Now the holly tree bears a bark as bitter as any gall
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ for to redeem us all.
Brightest and Best - Traditional
Vocals & Guitar – Jennifer Rose
Hail the blest morn, see the great Mediator
Down from the regions of glory descend.
Shepherds, go worship the Babe in the manger.
Lo, for a guard the bright angels attend.
Brightest and best of the Suns of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid!
Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
Cold on His cradle the dew drops are shining.
Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall.
Angels adore Him in slumber reclining;
Maker and monarch and savior of all!
Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
Vainly with gifts would His favor secure.
Richer by far is the heart’s adoration.
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.
The Coventry Carol - English
Vocals & Guitar – Jennifer Rose
Lully, lulla thou little, tiny child. Bye-bye, lully lullay.
Lully, lulla, thou litttle tiny child. Bye-bye, lully, lullay.
O, sisters too, how may we do for to preserve this day
This poor youngling for whom we do sing, “Bye-bye, lully, lullay.”
Herod the king, in his raging, charged he hath this day
His men of might in his own sight all young children to slay!
Then woe is me, poor Child, for Thee, and ever mourn and say;
For Thy parting, neither say nor sing, “Bye-bye, lully, lullay.”
What Child is This? - English
Vocals & Guitar – Jennifer Rose
What child is this, who, laid to rest on Mary’s lap, is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet while shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ, the King; whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud; the babe, the son of Mary!
Why lies He in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear, for sinners here the silent word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through, the cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh; the babe the son of Mary!
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh, come, peasant, king to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings; let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise the song on high, the Virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born; the babe, the son of Mary!
The Holly Bears a Berry - Pine Mountain, KY
Vocals & Guitar – Jennifer Rose
Now, the holly bears a berry as white as the milk,
And Mary bore Jesus who was wrapped up in silk.
And Mary bore Jesus Christ our savior for to be!
And the first tree of the greenwood, it was the holly.
Holly, holly! And the first tree of the greenwood, it was the holly.
Now, the holly bears a berry as green as the grass
And Mary bore Jesus who died on the cross.
Now, the holly bears a berry as red as the blood
And Mary bore Jesus to do sinners good.
Now, the holly bears a berry as black as the coal
And Mary bore Jesus who died for us all.
The Cherry Tree Carol - English
Vocals & Dulcimer – Jennifer Rose
When Joseph was a young man, a young man was he,
He courted sweet Mary, the Queen of Galilee.
As Joseph and Mary were walking one day,
Here are apples, here are cherries enough to behold.
Then Mary spoke to Joseph so meek and so mild,
“Joseph, gather me some cherries for I am with child.”
Then Joseph spoke in anger, in anger spoke he,
“Let the father of your baby gather cherries for thee!”
Then Jesus spoke a few words all from Mary’s womb,
“Bow down, ye little cherry bush, let my mother have some.”
Then the cherry tree bowed low down, bowed down to the ground,
And Mary gathered cherries while Joseph stood around.
Then Joseph took Mary all on his right knee,
“What have I done, Lord? Have mercy on me!”
Then Joseph took Mary all on his left knee,
“Now tell me, little baby, when Thy birthday will be.”
“On the sixth day of January my birthday shall be,
When the stars and all the elements shall tremble with glee!”
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming - German
Vocals & Dulcimer – Jennifer Rose
Lo, how a rose e’er blooming from tender stem has sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming as men of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter, when half-spent was the night.
Isaiah ‘twas foretold it, the rise I have in mind.
With Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.
To show God’s love aright, she bore to men a savior when half-spent was the night.
(Translation of Danish text - verses 3 and 4)
I saw a rose shoot out of the frozen earth, as was foretold by the prophet’s comforting words. The rose sprang forth in the midst of a cold winter night in Bethlehem.
That rose I now praise along with the host of heaven. A virgin was His mother, Maria, flawless and pure. In Him was light brought forth, in the midst of a cold winter night in Bethlehem.
O Holy Night - Adolph Adam
Vocals -
Jennifer Rose / Piano - Laura Compton
(First verse translated from French)
Midnight, Christians. It is the hour of the stars, when the man-God descends to us, to blot out the original stain and stay the Father’s wrath. All the world trembles in anticipation on this night which gives us a Savior. People, kneel! Await your deliverance. Christmas, Christmas, the song of the Redeemer.
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining.
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope; the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees, o, hear the angel voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born!
Truly He taught us to love one another.
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease!
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we.
Let all within us praise His holy name!
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!
He Shall Feed His Flock / Come Unto Him - GF Handel
Vocals -
Jennifer Rose / Piano - Laura Compton
He shall feed His flock like a shepherd,
And He shall gather the lambs with His arm
And carry them in His bosom and gently lead those that are with young.
Come unto Him, all ye that labor;
Come unto Him, ye that are heavy-laden, and He will give you rest.
Take His yoke upon you and learn of Him,
For He is meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Ave Maria - Franz Schubert
Vocals - Jennifer Rose / Piano - Laura Compton
(Loose translation)
Hail, Mary, gracious one, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed are you and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Hail Mary, mother of God, intercede for us now and at the hour of our death. Hail, Mary!
Once in Royal David’s City - Alexander/Gauntlett
Vocals - Jennifer Rose, Ralph Compton / Guitar - Ralph
Compton
Once in Royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.
He came down to earth from heaven, who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable and His cradle was a stall:
With the poor, and mean, and lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy.
Jesus is our childhood’s pattern. Day by day like us He grew.
He was little, weak ad helpless, tears and smiles, like us, He knew.
And He feeleth for our sadness, and He shareth in our gladness.
And our eyes at last shall see Him through His own redeeming love.
For that child, so dear and gentle, is our Lord in heaven above.
And He leads His children on to the place where He is gone.
Et Barn er
Født i Betlehem - Danish
Vocals & Guitar – Jennifer Rose
(Original Danish verses by NFS Grundtvig)
A child is born in Bethlehem, O be glad, Jerusalem! Hallelujah!
A lowly virgin bore the heir of the skies. Hallelujah!
He was laid in a manger and God’s angels sang with joy all round. Hallelujah!
The wise of the East offered Him there gold, frankincense and myrrh. Hallelujah!
Conquered now is all our need - today to us a savior is born! Hallelujah!
God’s dear children are we anew, who shall celebrate Christmas in Heaven. Hallelujah!
On the blue carpet of stars we will go joyfully to church. Hallelujah!
God’s angels there will teach us to sing as they sang that night! Hallelujah!
There we shall be angels like them, and see God’s kind face. Hallelujah!
Praise God eternally for His Savior bold and Brother kind. Hallelujah!
Down in yon Forest - traditional
Vocals & Guitar – Jennifer Rose
Down in yon forest be a hall. Sing May, Queen May, sing Mary.
‘Tis cover-lidded over with purple and pall.
Sing all good men for the newborn baby.
Oh in that hall is a pallet bed; ‘tis stained with blood like cardinal red.
And at that pallet is a stone on which the Virgin did atone.
Under that hall is a gushing flood; from Christ’s own side ‘tis water and blood.
Beside that bed a shrub tree grows. Since He was born it blooms and blows.
O, on that bed a young Lord sleeps. His wounds are sick, and see, He weeps.
O, hail yon Hall where none can sin, ‘cause it’s gold outside and silver within!
Silent Night - Franz Gruber
Vocals - Jennifer Rose, Ralph Compton / Guitar - Ralph
Compton
Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child, holy infant so tender and mild.
Sleep in heavenly peace!
(Translation of German text - verse 2) Silent night, holy night. All is asleep; only the faithful holy family is awake, with their blessed, tousle-headed boy-child. Sleep in heavenly peace!
(Translation of Danish text - verse 3) Peace on earth, joy on earth, the Child, Jesus lives among us! Angels sing of the child so lovely; He has opened the door of Heaven. Blessed is the angels’ song!
Silent night, holy night. Son of God, love’s pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face with the dawn of redeeming grace.
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth!
(Descant) On this holy night of nights, angels brought to earth a great light, singing, “Glory, glory to the Lamb! Let peace reign on earth; God’s good will toward men!” And let peace come again to our earth! Peace, peace, God’s peace on earth.