In the Bleak Midwinter
This is a Christmas carol that was first written as a poem by Christina Rossetti some time before 1872. The poem became a carol when it was printed in "The English Hymnal" in 1906. It was set to music by Gustav Holst.
In 1911 Harold Darke set it to different music. According to the BBC, the song as set to Darke's music was voted the best carol by choirmasters in 2008.
In the Bleak Midwinter
Christmas Carol
1. In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.
2. Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.
3. Enough for Him, whom cherubim
Worship night and day,
A breastful of milk,
And a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.
4. Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air -
But only His mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.
5. What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man
I would do my part;
Yet what I can, I give Him -
Give my heart.
In the recordings below, you can hear the song sung to the tune by Gustav Holst (circa 1906).
In the 1st recording below, you can hear sung verses 1, 2, 4 & 5.
Sung by Christine Lehman and Twinkle.
In the recording below, you can hear sung verses 1, 4 & 5.
Sung a cappella by Kristin Hughes.
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